Flood casualties
Suresh Chand, Nadi
The widespread flooding experienced in the Western Division over the past two days has left Police worried because one is dead and another is missing in the Sabeto River in Nadi.
They become the first reported casualties of the present bad weather pattern. Police say they will consider enforcing stricter movement laws if people keep crossing flooded rivers. I fully support the idea.
Police should not delay enforcing such laws if they are really concerned saving lives of our people. We will never be able to stop the people coming near the flood waters unless the laws are enforced seriously as mooted by Police immediately.
To enforce the laws is another thing as the area is vast and remote and Police can’t be in all the places all the time. But they can try.
Let’s hope there are no further casualties like this.
Privileges of democracy
Timoci Gaunavinaka, Nausori
Your newspaper has published many letters on this column written by people of different backgrounds.
Some write what they think. Some write about what they know and some write about what they wish.
There are also those who write to press a point and no matter how insignificant their point is compared to the facts of the matter, they will try to charm and sweet talk readers to convince them that they have a valid point no matter how irrelevant that point is to facts of the whole issue.
With today’s technology, it is amazing when you check up such people’s backgrounds you find out that they have no experience or qualification to give them any clue of what they are talking about.
These are the privileges of democracy.
Revelation, media freedom
Amenatave Yaconisau, Suva
I acknowledge the revelation in this newspaper by the Attorney-General (A-G) that more than $3million has already been collected by the PMs Relief and Rehabilitation funds (FS 2/4/16).
I think the public need to know the total amount collected and the purpose it’s been used for. This is all about accountability.
On media freedom I think ‘Coconut Wireless’ should be taught the difference between citizen and ethnicity before making irresponsible and conceited comments in the ‘Coconut Wireless’ of this newspaper.
It will only make people furious if culture unique to their ethnicity has been undermined. Our Constitution recognises this differences in its preamble particularly the unique culture, customs, traditions, and language including that of ancestors of Indentured labourers from British India. But it also declares that we are all Fijians by citizenry according to section (5)(1) of the Constitution.
We simply cannot usurp others cultural identity because it’s contrary to what the Constitution dictates. It’s unique to their own community. Such freedom of speech can only create anger. The Constitution cannot be ignored and dominated by such arrogance. Be sensitive for the sake of this newspaper please. I plead with the editor to monitor this column well.
Climate change
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
It is real!
Climate change is the end result of the human race abuse emanating from our inability to respect and manage this magnificent planet earth with its wonderful biodiversity, ecosystem coupled with its fabulous environment which was given in an all perfect complete state by His Holiness the Lord God our creator.
It is an illness of the mind where there is out of all, no respect for what was never ours in the first place and it now equates to natural disasters in our own making through floods, cyclones, earthquakes, tsunami, whirlwind, drought, holocaust and nuclear war.
There are only two things that rule this world; they are either a decision or indecision.
The harsh reality we are now faced with is, our divine Lord Jehovah punishes mankind by returning to the human race our own irresponsible garbage resulting from our mismanagement and disrespectful nature so we may learn and relook at our own ways. So let us stop blaming our Maker when something goes wrong and we all must stop asking him for mercy and forgiveness as we are only making ourselves look like idiots.
Let’s go back to the ‘Great Flood’ during Noah’s lifetime. Jehovah had promised mankind there will never again be a flood of the same magnitude. Every now and then the Lord reminds us of the same through his indescribable rainbow, but what is happening now? It is from our very own ignorant arrogant carelessness.
There is certainly just too much pride at stake and it belongs to the fools, but may I ask, is God really obliged to listen to our prayers? No, he doesn’t. He selectively chooses because in the Book of Psalms it confirms in Chapter 139 verses 1 it reads: Lord you have seen what is in my heart, you know all about me. 2. You know my highs and my low; you know what I am thinking even though you are far away. 3. You know when I go out to work and when I come back home; you know exactly how I live. 4. Lord even before I speak a word, you know all about it. 5. You are all around me, you are behind me and in front of me; you hold me in your power. 6. I am amazed at how well you know me lord; it’s more than I can understand.
From Adam and Eve to you and me he tested us all. He knew us well before we were born says King David in Psalms 139:13.
Collectively, I am confident that the current generation can holistically make a change to guarantee a better world for our future Fijians and beyond? Or do we really deserve this once majestic planet.
‘Cika’ and church
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Canada
Donald Singh raised an important question regarding believers who still go to church with conjunctivitis (red eye).
From experience, I would say that from the day one gets infected up to the day one feels that the infection begins to heal and move towards normalcy, he or she should not be mingling with people.
This should be the one time believers should stay at home while their minds are in church.
Those with ‘Cika’ who still make it to church kind of sends a message that they love their Lord and Saviour and infected eyes are not stopping them.
On the other hand, it would be a perfect excuse for the 50-50 Christian to rest at home but managed to get to work on time with their dark glasses during the week.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj