Leader by example
Indar Jit, Navua
All over the world, there are many leaders who are leading their people and country in a very effective and right direction.
Good leaders always lead by example. By walking the talk they become a person others want to follow. When leaders say one thing and do another it erodes trust – a critical element of productive leadership.
Fiji also came across a number of leaders. How far they lead the people and the country through their own example and leadership is a question to be asked or remembered by every Fijian.
Currently, we have a leader. He is our Prime Minister, Mr Bainimarama. Ever since he came into power and took charge of the country in his own hands, the country has been progressing very well.
However, the nature which is inevitable, the Category Five Tropical Cyclone Winston caused severe damage to Fijians.
This leader, Mr Bainimarama instead of relaxing in the comfort of his house, stood courageous and started to visit all the people in affected areas. He is still seen out with the people, advising them to stay strong and assuring them that the Government was here to assist them through all possible means. He is still urging people not to lose hope and try harder to get back on their feet.
Other International leaders are working hand in hand with our leader to bring back normalcy here. No doubt, Fijians are now witnessing that Mr Bainimarama and his Government ministers are totally committed to provide assistance to the grassroots and all cyclone victims.
They are assisting through food rations distribution, basic needs, health needs, housing needs, infrastructure needs and many more.
In fact our PM has vast qualities of good leadership. He is working out ways and means and leading the people through his example.
We Fijians must acknowledge and appreciate that we have a true leader. What he is offering to us we should accept it in good faith whole heartedly. Not to forget, with the leadership of Mr Bainimarama, and what all assistance he is offering to the people, it will not be long when the Fijian people will become more stronger to lead normal, useful and happier lives. Thank you Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. God bless Fiji.
New findings
Amenatave Yaconisau, Suva
Paul Gerharty’s programme titled ‘Vueta na vosa’ that used to be aired on Fiji One at 8.15pm Monday revealed that everyone in this country came from somewhere.
Revitalisation of the past seems to be going on to correct the perversion taught us from the education system. To me it is not a persuasive explanation by Mr Gerharty but an attempt to explain the past from a linguist point of view.
I agree that our history cannot be told solely as the history of Fijians (iTaukei) alone, because we have always lived beside Tonga, Samoa and other Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian neighbours. No man is an island they say. Lately the Ceylonese version of immigration came from Alisi Daurewa.
But Fijian legends have always had it that people lived here well before any other immigrants arrived (sa waqa tiko eke na buka ni bera ni ra yaco mai).
This probably harmonises with Dr Patrick Nunn’s finding that about 700 years ago people from the coast fled to the hills and made their hill forts (koro ni valu). This matches with the old history that new arrivals of people came looking for new lands.
Is something not on the dot here or just new information that inland (colo) people came from the coast (baravi)? The finding of Dr Patrick Nunn about Lapita civilisation in the Seseleka (Bua) area uncoils hidden secrets to early Fiji. It reinforces the argument that people were already here before new arrivals.
Whether it is the truth remains conjectural subject to more research information. One thing is clear is that the finding does not concur with early Fijian history taught in the classroom that we all originate from Nakauvadra and the Buatavatava and the Lutunasobasova version that subjects the Bua people and other tribes in Fiji to Verata power.
This is a liberating finding, but the question is, who were the new arrivals? Are they the same kind of people to the people living here now? Who were the inhabitants of these islands before the arrival of the Lapita people? Were there inter marriages that took place.
‘Leadership in Fiji’ by Rusiate Nayacakalou regarded this many categories of Fijian as a problem of modern leadership
Be that as it may I welcome Dr Paul Gerharty’s effort in reviving lost languages in Fiji as revealed to us (Drakaniwai).
To improve the number of people who speak languages at risk of being lost they are currently reviving myths and legend (tukuni) and other efforts including the conferment of degrees and Masters to this effect. My only plea to him is to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach towards the study of the past.
RIP Master Rabeni
Amrita V Sharma, Nasinu
I, on behalf of my family, would like to send our sincere condolence to the late master Seru Rabeni and his family.
He was a good friend of my husband. I had met Mr Rabeni on a few occasions. He was a great man, a role model to young Fijians at large. My husband was in a shock when he heard news of his sudden death because their last meeting was just a few days back.
Master Rabeni was a household name after the 2007 Rugby World Cup and the contribution from other fellow Flying Fijian that put the World Rugby on their toes in the matches against Wales and South Africa. The Almighty has other plans for him.
Mr Rabeni is now gone but not forgotten. May his soul rest in peace.
Unfriendly donation
Timoci Gaunavinaka, Nausori
We congratulate Ben Ryan, his boys and team officials for a job well done in Las Vegas, USA, and Vancouver, Canada.
In trying to make our small contribution to our Sevens Team to Rio (both men and women’s teams), my wife and I went to the Fiji Rugby union (FRU) to get the account number and bank to make the transfer to.
We later found out that any donated funds can only be paid to an HFC Bank account. FRU does not have any of its fund-raising account with BSP and other banks. We were surprised because the bulk of workers in Fiji bank with BSP or ANZ.
This means if we want to deduct $20 from our account with BSP every fortnight to be paid to the FRU Fund-raising account for Rio until September, we will have to pay another extra $10 fee per fortnight because a warrant will need to be manually delivered from BSP to HFC for that transaction.
My friend Master Eremasi Tamanisau’s plan for people to make $1 to $2 deductions per week in donation to the Rio Olympics will not work here because we will end up paying a $10 fee each time we donate $1 or $2 unless we take time off work and line up at the HFC bank queue every week.
Why can’t FRU follow the simple, friendly and practical structure shown by the PM’s Disaster Relief Donation accounts and open fund-raising accounts with all banks so we do not have to pay an extra $10 fee just because we do not bank with HFC?
This is simple common sense and anyone with a little knowledge of basic accounting or banking should understand.
If those sitting in the FRU Finance office cannot see the logic and practicality in this then I am so worried of what other bigger things they still have not seen.
Three Wise Cousins
Floyd Robinson, Nasinu
The ‘Three Wise Cousins’ is definitely one movie for the family to watch.
It is backed with lots of island humour and drama about a New Zealand-based Samoan young man who travels back home in a quest to develop into an island boy so that he could win the heart of a beautiful lady.
This is one of the movies of 2016, at least quite different from the usual shooting, killing and vulgar language associated with most highly rated movies. I don’t mind going back to watch the Three Wise Cousins.
Congratulations
Kirti Patel, Lautoka
Thank you Vodafone Fijian 7s team for your gallant efforts at the Canada 7s in Vancouver, Canada. You did your best.
The win in Les Vegas was splendid. You gave us the biggest smiles ever taking into consideration the situation of Fiji. Our hopes as usual were high again this time but it is understood we can’t always win. After all it’s all part of the game. However your hard work and dedication is always noticed.
To Ben Ryan, what shall I say? You are simply awesome.
People can run out of words when it comes to your interest in rugby for the Fijian team. We are where we are in terms of rugby today because of you and Sir, Serevi. Fiji is proud of you at any cost. You have always made us proud. Hopefully we can win in next one. Good things come at a good time. We are there already and will wait for Rio.
Please don’t be disheartened. Good times will come out brightly.