Border security
Sumanth Kumar, Lautoka
Few weeks ago my sister came to Fiji from Brisbane and I went to pick her. When we reached home she asked me that she brought three bags and was looking for another one as I have loaded only two bags.
Since I saw that she was firm that she brought 3 bags then I decided to drive back as the time was only 7pm.
Upon arriving at the airport we went one security personnal and told what had happened and they did their security checks and allowed her in to check.
She then noticed that her missing bag was with one senior customs officer by the name of Romulusi Yauvoli who also had list of items which was in the bag.
She came out with a big smile on her face and said that nothing was missing from the bag. We thank the authorities to have such an honest custom officers at arrivals and with a will to help passengers. Romulusi God bless you and your family.
Lost bags are the last things passengers wants to experience.
Healing water investigation
Iliesa Naivalu, Suva
I suggest that before the Ministry of Health investigates the healing water at Natadradave in Dawasamu, it should first investigate certain unsolved deaths that have occurred in some of our hospitals.
It should also investigate the allegations about expired medications that are offered at their pharmacies.
If they insist on travelling to Dawasamu, they should stop at the Korovou Health Centre and investigate as why the centre is empty these days.
In reaching Natadradave, they should investigate as why thousands of people of all races and ages travelled from all over Fiji braved the dusty road and paying hundreds of dollars just to be in that village in any given day.
It is time that the ministry forgets about investigation but to step in by providing better facilities in the area as the water is doing more healing which the medical fraternity should at least appreciate and give all their support.
Miracle water
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Canada
I wonder what the Ministry of Health has found regarding the minerals or contents found in the much talked about miracle water from Dawasamu in Tailevu.
We have read stories from Fijians confirming their miracles after drinking, using or bathing in the miracle water.
Could the Ministry of Health also tell the public if the mineral contents of the Dawasamu water are the same as the bottled FIJI Water?
If they are the same then the same healing miracles could be attained using FIJI Water, but who can afford to bath in it?
This means that all our natural water direct from its source could be classed as miracle water.
Most people who had commented on the Dawasamu miracle said that it takes faith and the rest will work itself out.
Bus conditions
Manoa Kaleca, Suva
Buses provide an essential service to the public.
One can already see that some bus companies have taken massive steps to modernise their current fleet.
The profit that these bus companies make mostly comes from the pocket of the citizens who commute on them either to work, school or leisure.
What I don’t seem to understand is why only some bus companies have modernised their fleets while others keep using the old out of date ones.
There should be a system put in place by the relevant authorities to ensure that the general public is provided with modern, secure and safe buses.
Too many a times we read and watch on the news about a bus that has veered off the road or caught on fire, and yet they are put back on the road once they are fixed.
Lives are precious folks.
Speed cameras
Rajesh Lal, Labasa
It is good news to see and hear that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has finally installed speed cameras on some parts of our roads to help catch and at the same time punish those disobedient drivers who are deliberately breaking traffic laws everyday and have become a threat on our roads.
But how can the speed camera catch the vehicle registration number when the vehicle has no number plate affixed to its vehicle?
There are so many vehicles, old and new, running on our roads without number plates every day.
I wonder where the road safety officers are, and why do these illegal activities go unnoticed?
I have already sent text messages on 582 regarding the missing number plates but I see the same vehicle running on the road without number plates.
I think it’s time the LTA officers should wake up and start doing some ground work to catch these vehicles.
The wheel in reverse gear
Timoci Gaunavinaka, Nausori
Fiji is thriving economically today like never before in its modern history.
Developments are just “littered” everywhere. Our rural people are now offered jobs in Australia, New Zealand and North America is coming up next.
In some of our villages and settlements, concrete and even double-story houses are replacing thatched and corrugated iron dwellings.
Almost one out of every four families has a car.
Affordability of education is now applicable to everyone including tertiary institutions which even in places like the USA, parents save money for years to afford.
Despite all these, there are still problems we are slowly trying to solve. \
There are signs of poverty in many settlements and rural areas. Unemployment is still a huge challenge.
We still face logistical problems in our sugar industry.
Economic prosperity also inherits side-effects like NCDs, crime, etc.
For any nation to become healthy, prosperous, stable and secure it needs all its nitty gritty physical, political, socio-economical, cultural and philosophical ideals to be running in the same direction, though not necessarily in harmony or at the same speed.
What we have today is a nation with three wheels running forward while one is totally in reverse gear.
This wheel in reverse gear consists of those who expect Government to solve all their problems and feed them as well.
It consists of some politicians who allegedly bankrupt our national bank, almost collapsed our economy, divided our people on ethnic lines, transfer iTaukei land into freehold and now try to preach about good governance.
It consists of those who believe that it is their birthright to rule no matter what qualification and experience they hold and only they and their descendants must be treated as royalty.
It consists of those who would stand at the pulpit and choose certain chapters of the Bible and twist them to justify their agendas.
It consists of those who would blame Government for every misfortune in their lives even if they were the results of their own wrong decisions.
It consists of those who would take advantage and prey on the weak and vulnerable to deceitfully satisfy their greed.
It consists of those who try to destabilise our peace and unity at the pretext of freedom of speech and democracy.
It is time we make this reverse-running wheel “neutral” so it may run in unison with the other three wheels thus moving our nation forward at the pace it deserves.
Our progress as a nation and the vote of the majority must never be held at ransom by the loud voices of an insignificant few.
Wishes from afar
Raymond Kalyan Chandra, Kamloops, Canada
As a student in Fiji in the 1930s and 1940s and as a teacher and principal in the 1950s and 1960s, I wish all students of Fiji well in their upcoming final examiniations.
Give it your best shot students and find out how strong you really are.
You will feel good for having tried your best no matter what the final outcome is.
The choice is yours and the sky is the limit.