Waqavonovono’s sugary input
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
I read with interest Pita Waqavonovono’s submissions on behalf of SODELPA on the reform of the Sugar Cane Industry Bill 2016 before the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs in Parliament.
As reported in the FS 24/05/16 Page 5 titled: “SODELPA says Sugar Industry at Crossroads”, he is on record for rightly alluding to the problems faced by our sugarcane industry which includes the non-renewal of sugarcane land leases together with its milling and transportation problems.
Pita has fallen short of admitting to the fact that it was his very own Ro Teimumu Kepa led SODELPA together with former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase who led SDL Party including the Sitiveni Rabuka Government combined with their ultra-nationalist stand and their non-inclusive discriminating policies, were all involved in the downfall of our sugar industry.
It caused undue strain on our economy and to those directly involved in it including the necessary stop-leak plug reform policies put in place by the FijiFirst Government.
His contribution is nothing new but a childish ill-conceived cheap political stunt to justify what the majority of Fijians and cane farmers throughout Fiji already know. But for those of us who really do come from a sugarcane farming background, we know where the problem lies.
Please Pita, don’t talk about the sugarcane industry when you know absolutely nothing about its planting, harvesting and milling together with its unwarranted deep rooted discriminating politics.
In the national interest, the only solution is for Government to remain the owner 100 per cent. With this, it can protect, maximise and ensure its long term viability relevant to our country’s economy including all its frontline stakeholders.
The FSC should not be a plaything and cannot be allowed to be owned by a particular organisation be it a union, an association or a political party. It must belong to Government irrespective of which one comes into power because the sugar industry is about our country’s interests and its livelihood. It simply cannot be left to ruin in the wrong hands.
Price of grog
Sukha Singh, Labasa
Labasa was lucky that Tropical Cyclone Winston did not come our way. But the biggest damage to hit Labasa is that grog price went from $40 per kilogramme (kg) to $70/kg.
Could the Consumer Council of Fiji chief executive officer Premila Kumar or the new mediation centre look into this price hike and normalise the situation in the Northern Division?
Water pressure and billing
Amrit Singh, Nausori
Low water pressure experience has now become a norm on Bau Road in Nausori. When we come home from school in this cold weather, we have to fill buckets to bathe.
Along Bau Road and in the Nausori area, many Water Authority of Fiji workers have dug piping holes and left. It’s a request to do one maintenance job first before jumping onto the next.
I would also like to suggest to Government to do a monthly billing because the three-month billing is too much.
Government should have a debate on this in Parliament.
Reply to Gaunavinaka: iTaukei matters
Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi
I am glad that the learned Timoci Gaunavinaka(TG) has responded to my letter on the above matter(FS 28/5/16).
Let me clarify myself that I did not attack the Fiji Sun unnecessarily as alleged. All I said was that I supported Freedom of the Press as long as it is conducted in a responsible spirit.
All that meant is that if this newspaper prints letters in criticism of iTaukei institution and its culture with a purpose of being helpful and not to persecute their culture and institution, in the name of Freedom of Expression then I have no quarrel with that kind of freedom.
I further added that there were writers who criticise with the intent of prosecuting all that is iTaukei and are indifferent to the consequences of their words.
If he thinks that he maybe included in that lot, then I’m not surprised.
While putting words in my mouth, may I remind him that the late Rusiate Nayacakalou and more recently Paddy Nunn were tasked to solve social problems not because of their ethnicity and social background but ability, qualification and experience.
The former presented a well articulated study iTaukei life from pre-contact time to modern situation in the process of change, external contact and economic development.
The latter is doing useful social anthropological research in a multi-disciplinary manner that may eventually challenge the traditional history of common origins from Nakauvadra (including other legends and myths) to the latest of which is Seseleka in Bua that claims a new hypothesis that people were already present in Fiji before the arrival of the Lapita people.
All these scientific findings by people whose insights are worthy of respect should be supported by authorities and authorities like Paul Geraghty.
As a democracy, I am not here to stop people or influence them of their views in our national constituent.
That is their freedom of expression, that is, the electoral choice as to whom should lead them.
There is no doubt that we can have ‘new left’ views here based on participatory democracy that is not forced on people based on ethnicity and ‘blood philosophers’.
I will not be involved in this pernicious discussion anymore.