Driving School
Shahil Kumar, Suva
As a concern road user, I would like to urge the Land Transport Authority to investigate the driving school license holders on the ways of teaching their clients how to drive and that they really follow the accurate procedures laid down by the LTA?
“Just got my provisional license” This is the exact phrase you get to hear from everyone nowadays. I hardly notice anyone failing their driving test. But I have noticed an increase in number of road accidents where the culprit were the new drivers. ‘Who is supposed to be blamed for this?’, of course the driving schools. These driving schools promise a lot of stuff to their clients like theory classes, evening classes but barely they keep this so called ‘promises’.
Later, clients complain about how this driving school charged them big bucks but never conducted a theory or evening classes and took them for a drive test in just two weeks time. Some driving school also give bribes to get their clients pass the test without any obstacles. This is not fair enough as they would not learn how to drive properly and risk others lives on the road. “Life is very precious and should not be wasted in the hands of some unlawful people”.
Racial discrimination
Jan Nissar, Australia
Good to see that someone has been fined by the Fiji Consumer and Competition Commission for advertising for a tenant based on racial lines. The fact is this landlord was oblivious to the fact that he was racially discriminating. It was very normal to him.
How many such Fijians are there who are oblivious to this fact? In my opinion the vast majority.
Case in point is the number of sports tournaments which are organised on religious and racial lines. People not from that religious or ethnic group are not allowed to participate. It is so ingrained that it is “normal”.
Just like the caste system in India which has obviously flowed to Fiji. Discrimination based on caste is “normal”. When will the FCCC do anything about this?
Tax cheats
Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
Taxpayers, who deliberately misrepresent the true state of their affairs to Fiji Revenue and Customs Services by reducing their tax liability including dishonest tax reporting, such as declaring less income, profits and gains than the amounts actually earned, and overstating deductions, should not only be ashamed of themselves but when caught, need to serve long jail terms.
Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s statement that the Government plans to up its game on those evading taxes or cheating the state coffers, is not only proper but Government needs to ensure that we have tax laws that cannot be taken advantage of.
We also need to ensure that we have a system in place that cannot encourage corruption by tax officials.
As a developing country, tax is a vital source of Government revenue. Tax evasion and corrupt practices has an ambiguous effect on the growth of our economy and it basically reduces the amount of public services supplied by the Government, which leads to negative consequences for growth.
Anyone found guilty of tax avoidance and tax evasion needs to see the inside of our prison walls and for a long time!
Control Towers
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
The FTUC march that was intended to take place in the face of the Fiji hosted ADB Convention at our FNPF owned Sheraton and Westin properties on Denarau Island, Nadi, did not eventuate to see the light of day. The Fiji Airports Control Towers Union saga followed the unsuccessful aborted march by FTUC to which it is affiliated to.
Have never heard of Felix Anthony and Dan Urai for the past month, they must have gone into hiding with their cohorts after the termination of four senior management officers at AFL who childishly joined the walkout.
They are now without a job but these Union heads are still getting paid their luxury salaries to protect their lifestyles.
How many of those union members that went on strike have now learnt a lesson.
Or how many of these Control Tower Officers understand the fact that Fiji Airports is their ultimate employer from day one of their employment, but not through those old union reps at the FTUC house.
The ATS walkout and strike last year were never a success. I am concerned where their employees were used as pawns by those union heads and Opposition political parties to further their own political agenda.
Fiji Airports including ATS has spent millions of dollars in training and upskilling of these employees and they should not be subjected to these ill-conceived union propaganda and nonsense that do not protect the bigger interest of the two institutions and our country’s welfare.
A lesson learnt; Never bite the hand that feeds you employees including your many families, but the Fiji Airports and the ATS Boards, its executives, the Ministry of Employment and Industrial Relations, the Fiji Police Force including our Government must be commended for their quick response.
We still have our FijiFirst Government in Power, it is the Government for every Fijian irrespective of their political affiliations .
Similar to our world acclaimed 2013 Constitution our FijiFirst 2018 Political Party manifesto is the manifesto for all Fijians as well.
I wish to encourage all Fijians to question and scrutinise our Government’s performances through its party manifesto, but not senselessly criticise it for doing the right thing inclusively for the country and all Fijians irrespective.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj