Tribute to Ratu Joni

Samuela Kailawadoko , Nadi

Rest in peace Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi. He was an iTaukei chief who did not yield to every impulse and suggestion but, considered things carefully and patiently. He tried to be perfect by not readily believing and spoke no evil of others but saw good in them because he knew that human frailty was prone to evil and was likely to appear in speech.

Whether he thought of himself or of his neighbour, he knew that no one leaves here without suffering and the closer he examined himself, the more he grieved.

He did not act rashly or cling obstinately to one opinion. He did not to believe everything people said or spread gossip that he overheard. He was a man of great wisdom.

The kindness shown, his humility to all he met during his service to the nation has made his life a peaceful one.

He has departed as he hoped on the heavenward path.God’s mercy is his only merit. Ni sa moce na gone turaga na Roko Tui Bau (Translation: Farewell paramount chief of Bau).

Beggar allowance

Arien Vikash Kumar, Nadi

A beggar stopped me in town during lunch hour. Bhaiya…bhaiya stop please!  I stopped and started digging into my pockets for coins but the beggar kept calling “bhaiya..bhaiya.

“Wait yaar…am giving,” I told the beggar.

“No bhaiya, I don’t want any money but I want to ask you something,” said the beggar.

“Ok ask?” I said.

“Bhaiya, will I also earn more if I go and beg in front of the Parliament?” asked the beggar.

“What! Why! Who told you?” I asked.

“Arey bhaiya. We sit everyday and beg whole day. Sometimes we don’t eat for days, we sleep on footpaths and we getting very less from social welfare.

“Bhaiya don’t give me any money but promise me that you will vote for me in the next election so I can be a Member of Parliarment also,” said the beggar.

As I tried walking away from him speechless, the beggar yelled from the back saying: “Bhaiya, it’s better to be in Parliament than on the streets because they get more there for sitting, eating and sleeping.

“Bhaiya, soon they will be getting more for the drama we see during debates everyday. So please vote for me and I will think about you also.”

I walked away thinking who deserves more.

Traffic jam

Sachida  Rao, Nausori

It is so stressful and frustrating to be caught in a traffic jam. It normally takes around 30 minutes to drive from Nausori to Suva. It took me 90 minutes yesterday. This is not an exaggeration.

On Friday September 30, I was on the Rewa Bridge at 6.30am and reached Suva at 8am. The route that I took was 20 kilometres and the time was 90 minutes.

Thus, the average speed was approximately 13.5 kmph.

What was the reason? The traffic jam starting just after the Rewa Bridge and all the way to Suva.

It is probably, a bit of jam-free here and there, but not more than 100 metres at any one time.

I had a very tensed and stressful drive in the morning.

Such an experience in the morning really affects the production level of any worker.

Collectively, this can affect the economic growth of the nation. My request to the authorities is to find solutions to this escalating problem.

I champion clean environment but feel guilty because of the extra amount of smoke emitted from my car due to extra driving hours caused by the traffic jam.

The influx of cars on the road will continue because financial institutions are offering affordable packages. For example, at just 10 per cent deposit one can become the owner of the vehicle. The question is: How the authorities are going to counter this sudden increase of vehicles?

Please take this as a plea from a disappointed and frustrated driver.

The Parliament

Sukha Singh, Labasa

The best thing I like about Parliament is that whenever Parliamentarians face any hardship they overcome the hardship instantly. But I would like the Opposition members to form a union to safeguard their interests. My friend Dan Urai can always assist you.

Daring crimes

Jason Verma, Wailoku

Daylight carjacking and other crimes have driven fear in the hearts of residents and no one knows when it will stop.

Like other countries, it’s high time that we have a database of fingerprints and other details of all the citizens of Fiji. This will not only make crime detectable early but will save a lot of time and money for the Police and forensics.

We are living in the technological age, then why are we behind? Could I see this debated in Parliament soon?

Crime escalation

Joan McGoon, Nadi

As the rate of crime and daylight robbery escalates, many ask themselves why or how can this be happening?

Thomas More from his book, ‘Utopia’ wraps it up in a nutshell:

“For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, whatelse is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them”.

‘Workermen’s’ Compensation Act?

Satish Nakched, Suva

We have in Fiji a Workmen’s Compensation Act Chapter 94 which deals with anyone who is injured at work and even in a case of fatality.

Depending on the nature of the injury, the victim or the deceased’s family can claim liability through the courts.

This Act has been in existence since 1965 when the workforce in Fiji was male-dominated and all the references made in the legislation when referring to any person mentioned the words “he” or “him “throughout the documentation.

Since then, the workforce scenario has changed dramatically and the females now commands a huge work percentage and many are holding top range employment and this trend will continue to grow.

A good indicator is the number of female students graduating from the universities in the country.

When the landscape in the workforce was changing the Workmen’s Compensation Act should have been progressive and removed the word “Workmen compensation Act “and be replaced with “Workers compensation Act”.

The title of the said act is discriminatory in nature and not in line with Government’s vision of equality for everyone.

An amendment to the Act was carried out in 2015 but missed out in correcting discriminatory issues.

I believe that this exercise must be carried out by the new minister to remove any irrelevant and obsolete words or phrases from the document.

This is in the view to create a legislation which is robust and in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights global trend of gender equality.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj