Crime
Akhila Nand, Samabula
After the general election in September, 2014, the crime rate was very slow.
All of a sudden, the crime rate has increased very much. Everyday we read in the news of people getting robbed of cash, cars, mobile phones and other valuables.
On March 3 this year, I was pick-pocketed of about $200 cash while on my way to a supermarket for my monthly shopping.
The money, which was in an envelope, was taken from my shirt pocket at Nina Street in Suva at about 10.40am.
The matter was not reported to Police because a similar incident happened to my wife a few years ago where she was robbed of $100.
She reported it to the Police but nothing had happened.
On the second incident, somebody removed two louver blades in my kitchen and entered my bedroom. This happened on April 11 this year at around 5am.
I was asleep at that time and my wife saw the thief coming out from my bedroom.
Unfortunately, she didn’t see his face because it was covered.
By the time she woke me up; the thief had escaped through the front door. He stole $60, my wife’s gold wrist watch and a 22 carat gold chain.
The matter was reported to Samabula Police Station at about 5.30am and Police arrived at about 9am. Luckily, no one was injured during the robbery.
Finger prints were taken but nothing was found on the louver blades.
How safe are people in their homes?
The thieves can rob any house without fear.
Thieves use the money to purchase drugs, alcohol and other things. People are very frightened in their homes.
I request the Prime Minister to intervene and stop the robbery. Police and Army should work together for the safety of people.
Regular patrols should be done at Vatoa Street, Moala Street, Totoya Street, Ono Street, Fulaga Street and other neighbouring streets in Samabula
Traffic confusion
Neelz Singh, Lami
On Monday morning the traffic Police, was controlling the Rodwell Road junction crossing in front of MH Supermarket and guiding traffic flow in Suva.
The traffic light was in working order. Once the light turned red and pedestrians thought to cross, instead of stopping, the Police guided them to go from both ends.
So in this case if traffic camera caught it, who is liable to be charged; traffic Police or driver of the vehicle?
Sugar dilemma
Vivien Counsell Mitchell, Serua
It strikes me that we are facing a conundrum. On one hand we have a major local industry relying on increasing sales of our sugar.
On the other hand, we have health ministers pleading with us to cut back on the sugar we eat, in our food and all those sugary drinks we just don’t need, in order to become healthier.
With non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and kidney disease affecting rapidly growing numbers, and the notorious Pacific Islander ‘sweet tooth’, how can we possibly rationalise promoting increased sales of sugar, while at the same time encouraging reduced sugar consumption? Hmmm…
Atletico Paranaense
Simon Hazelman, Savusavu
Fiji Football Association continues to state that our Fijian U23 football team was scheduled to play and lost to Atletico Paranaense 4-0.
Atletico Paranaense is a professional outfit that competes in top competitions domestically in Brazil and internationally. They have, in the past, won the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, Brazil’s top professional league and many other titles. The club is over 91-years-old with a very loyal and proud fan base and officials.
Currently Atletico Paranaense has a busy schedule as they are currently playing in five different competitions, the Serie-A, Paranaense-1, Primeira Liga, Copa-do-Brazil, and the Copa Sudamericana.
A simple search and a couple of calls abroad has revealed that our Fijian U23 football team was never scheduled, nor played and lost to Atletico Paranaense?
Can FFA please explain to us why the false information and also confirm specifically which team did our team really play?
Data bureau move
Vijay Kumar, Lautoka
Shame on the banks and those lawyers and accountants who support them.
They say that interest rates will or should go up because Government has simply and rightly asked that data bureau gets regulated and follows rules so everybody especially the ordinary Fijian can get protection.
What is wrong with pressing the restart button? What is wrong with looking after the common person?
Data bureau
Nardeo Mishra, Suva
The Minister for Industry and Trade Faiyaz Koya said the truth about the Data Bureau in his press statement: “For more than a decade ordinary Fijians have been suffering at the hands of the only credit reporting agency in Fiji which is the Data Bureau which has not undertaken proper verification of the information provided to them nor has in place any credible system to correct their information.”
This was long overdue and there are a lot of us including me have been victims of the Data Bureau.
Ever since they started their operations in Fiji, they have just collected the information but never tried to rectify it from the people concerned.
The data they have is almost 20 years old. If I am not wrong, our laws do not allow to hold any more data after seven years which the bureau failed to follow.
Thank you Minister and Government for your concern for ordinary Fijians.
Facebook supervision
Floyd Robinson, Nasinu
Is Facebook taking over the roles of parenthood? Should parents be worried that it is having more influence on their children and infants?
While one is entitled to their opinions, the communication available on Facebook is alarming.
The amount of insensitive communication including use of vulgar language, inappropriate gestures, racist comments, hate, anger and amount of frustration vented our on a daily basis is alarming.
With all due respect, whilst Facebook has its advantages, children are exposed to other forms of communication without parental supervision.
Its impacts on their behaviour are anyone’s guess. Like it or not, it’s here to stay.
Parents need to be a step ahead of it before it exerts more influence on their children’s behaviour and development.
Property fires
Indar Jit, Navua
Reading about the property fires around Fiji, one would go wondering why so many properties are getting destroyed by fires.
The National Fire Authority (NFA), has continuously advised the public on fire safety, but day after day we read about property fires.
Fire outbreak is never a pleasant incident. When fire breaks out, there are serious problems for the residents of the particular property as eliminating a fire is not an easy task to do.
There are many causes of fire outbreaks but there are many ways to prevent such incidents.
There are countless things that can set a house or building on fire.
As stated by NFA, many fires occur because of people’s carelessness, but other times it’s just fate and nobody can be blamed for it.
Gas leakage can cause one to lose his or her home if not rectified in time. When gas is leaking through the pipe, no matter whether the gas leakage is in one kitchen or other parts where cooking is done, a single matchstick can blow up the entire property.
It is normally believed that smoking is a hazardous to a person’s health, but there are also other harms the cigarette smoking is doing to the surroundings of the smokers. People smoking should well understand where they are throwing their cigarette butts and burning matchsticks.
Electric equipment poorly stored with constricted air vents such as radios, stereo equipments, television and computers are expected to heat up.
This will lead to fire outbreaks and related issues.
So it is important that one always ensures that all electrical fittings are in proper condition are checked by a qualified electrician.
Whether it is gas leakage, or electrical equipment overheating, there are many things that can ignite fires.
The other measures to avoid fires include burning lamps, candles, pooja diyas and matches and these are not to be left unattended at any time or left in the hands of children.
Burning of rubbish at no time should be done close to the house, and when done so, one has to ensure that the fire does not spread out and becomes risk to ones property.
For many people, it takes ages to build a house. One will need a good sum of money to build a house.
In many house and property fires, there have been a number of victims who have lost their lives. Life is precious. No one will like to see their loved ones lose their lives and become victims of fire.
It is really a matter of urgent concern. Therefore, we all must understand about fire safety.
Measures to prevent fires must be practiced by one and all.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj