New farmers

Joe Smith, Pacific Harbour

We, non-cane farmers, do appreciate Government’s efforts in sustaining the sugar industry as over 200,000 Fijians are dependent for their livelihood.

Huge publicity on Fiji Sugar Corporation is all over. However, I would suggest Sugar Ministry and FSC jointly identify special new farmers with over 100 acres land ready to plant and contribute to sugar production.

Please support such key growers and provide some grants for farm machinery purchase.

Bridge railings

Taitusi Sokiveta,  Phoenix, Arizona

The engineers need to check all the outside railings on the new Rewa Bridge to make sure they are safe and secure before school children start using it.

Also traffic need to slow down at 24 kilometres per hour from Davuilevu side in the mornings and after school hours for safety reasons considering the number of children crossing the Rewa Bridge.

We are not just dealing with one school here like other bridges in the country. There are several schools like Dilkusha Primary School, Lelean Memorial School, the Bible College in Davuilevu, Saraswati College and the Assemblies of God Church where the old Saraswati College used to be.

I know this because when I was in Fiji I used to witness the many students crossing when my late father was with the Royal Fiji Police Force, as it used to be called then. He was based in Nausori and this was in the late 50s. I attended Dilkusha Primary School and the old Rewa Hotel is now Saraswati College. This was in the late 60s to the 70s.

Then I was hired by a Kiwi whose business the United South Pacific Limited based in Walu Bay, Suva in July 1970.

One scary thing about crossing the bridge is when a heavy truck or bus passes by, the bridge shakes when the vehicle passes you. If it wasn’t for the railing, you could have easily been thrown to the river.

When I was attending Dilkusha Primary School in the late 50s I was only 7 years old and didn’t know how to swim then. It was always such a scary experience for me when crossing the bridge.

I would hang onto the rail as if my life depended on it and I guess that’s why the feeling’s always stayed with me to this day. The safety of school children and the community is paramount that we should put in measures to address this.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj