Fiji is not lost
Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi
I applaud all military personnel from Australia, New Zealand and now China for sacrificing time with their families, other recreations for the cause of rebuilding Fiji.
Most of them have gone to remote parts of Fiji to assist in the rebuilding and reconstruction process.
They do not get newspapers, movies or television, but kava and a few mosquitoes and centipedes. Most of the properties and source of living in rural areas and villages on the track of Tropical Cyclone Winston have been ruined and damaged, and restoration is the objective.
The entire aspects of villages have completely changed.
Tens of thousands learned during the horror that dreaded evening of February 20 that we are powerless against nature and the will of God.
No army armed for battle could stand up to it. Even the house of God (valenilotu) has been damaged alongside the Reverends’ (talatala) house.
Some sections of villages are empty and now look like a ghost town at night with people clustering together against threats.
Those who survived that terrible night woke up to a distressful Sunday morning looking at the debris left behind by the monster storm. They were fully aware that they had bid farewell forever to their beloved village.
Because the damage is enormous it has taken away the character and tradition of their village, once an integral part of their life; the only world they know that brought them up.
Everywhere there is indescribable destruction as if someone dropped a bomb and flattened everything.
But the sad thing is you can’t take anyone to court for murder or wilful damage of property. You can only look up for help.
A night that will be etched forever in our minds as long as we live; the story shall be told to our descendents for years to come.
In the meantime we welcome the co-ordinated efforts to rebuild Fiji
You can only ask for mercy.
North Korea next
Timoci Gaunavinaka, Nausori
If I remember correctly, USA went to war in Iraq to save the world from the use of “Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)” despite Saddam Hussein’s denial that they don’t have any.
After the war, no WMD was found but only tens of thousands of innocent civilians were killed and lives of millions shattered, economy destroyed and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) who are worse than the Taliban takes control.
Today, North Korea is declaring that they have WMD and will not hesitate to use it against any aggressor including the USA. They are also about to test their long range missile they claim is capable of delivering those warheads.
Shall we assume the USA will invade North Korea next to again “save the world” since President Kim’s open admission of being in possession of WMDs?
I can imagine the smiles and excitement in the offices of chief executives of large US Arms producers sensing some huge paydays ahead.
What a sick world we have made this to be.
Urai’s condemnation
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
His letter in the other newspaper-14/03/14 titled “Union’s Role”, he has condemned and labelled all International and local donor hypocrites because in his own words: “They had made public their assistance to Fiji” for those devastated by Tropical Cyclone Winston except for his Fiji Hotel Workers Union which had absolutely donated nothing.
Those right thinking and caring Fiji Teachers Union executives quickly donated and made public their positive humanitarian assistance of $20k post TC Winston as their contribution for relief assistance to their members affected and yet Urai calls them hypocrites.
If you can’t contribute positively to the sufferings of our many devastated fellow Fijians, Dan, don’t talk, while we continue to help our fellow suffering countrymen, women and children indiscriminately.
Every other donor must be thanked and acknowledged for their millions of dollars worth of relief assistance.
Making their donations public is all about transparency and accountability to the Fijian people, it is above board and “Power to the People affected”; they will be appreciated and respected for their worthy much appreciated humanitarian assistance.
Dan’s ungrateful and disrespectful condemnation is not necessary, unwarranted and ill conceived; these donors deserve all the respect and praise because their kind deed is Godly.
Climate Change prospect
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
As most of the areas destroyed by Cyclone Winston are coastal and islands, I think we should all put our minds together for the rebuilding of their homes.
They were previously located in the low lying areas and it would be wise to relocate on higher grounds after the aftermath of this monster storm.
The destruction weren’t just from the cyclone but most of the coastal areas were hit by tidal waves during the cyclone.
These are definite signs of how close the people are living from the water lines.
With the rising sea level homes yet to be rebuild the best time to relocate is now.
A few villages had the idea of relocating in mind way before Cyclone Winston hit us and had mixed feelings of how. This is the best opportunity having in mind the future of our younger generations.