Between a rock and a hard place
Debby Mue, Suva Point
As a long-time resident of Suva Point I am writing with dismay concerning the future of this old, well-established and close-knit community.
Our little suburb now finds itself wedged between the sea and encroaching commercialism.
Any observer coming down Laucala Bay Road can see the increasing congestion in just one block. Starting with the entrance at Grantham Road (which you will pass on the left) there is Damodar City, McDonald’s, Sports City, Cost U Less, a sporting complex including the Aquatic Centre, a proposed Fiji Sports Council sporting and commercial area (on the old Laucala Bay Secondary School site) and then the Vodafone Arena.
As if that was not enough, on the right there is the University of the South Pacific (Laucala Bay Campus), the ANZ Stadium, and the FMF Gymnasium. So that on any given day there is a major influx of students, shoppers, cinema goers, and sports lovers into this area.
Now, right on the corner of Laucala Bay Road and Fletcher Road, Rups plans to build yet another commercial enterprise. This is just a stone’s throw from the residences fronting Fletcher Road.
This particular corner is, even after a short downpour of heavy rain, prone to rapid flooding as the current drainage system cannot cope. The proposed shopping complex, with the inevitable littering by shoppers, would further compromise the already inadequate drainage system and exacerbate the Fletcher Road traffic flow -a major artery in and out of the city.
Furthermore, an increase in shoppers means an increase in the number of people entering the residential area. Unfortunately, this means more potential for criminal activity -especially now that we have an abandoned Suva Point Police Community Post. There has been a spike in robberies and with so many unfamiliar faces around, there is less chance of identifying the suspects if they have been spotted.
The streets of Suva Point are very narrow, so narrow in fact that there is no room for footpaths. This did not stop the Vodafone Hibiscus Festival goers (for the second year running) parking and often double parking along the verges directly outside people’s homes. Some residents found it extremely difficult to get in and out of their hemmed in homes. There was also the issue of a most unwelcome invasion of privacy.
I understand the rationale behind decentralisation but it is a very sorry state of affairs environmentally and socially speaking when the city impinges on the life of the suburbs, with big companies in pursuit of business expansion showing no regards for the rights of citizens to a peaceful, safe, and pollution free existence in one’s own place of residence.

Do something for Fiji
Daya Wati, Nausori
The ten cents levy to keep our environment clean is not much. It is a shame that people are still crying about this three weeks later. I have personally started being more mindful about the plastic bags I use.
Stop whining and do something good for your country.

Social media woes
Premila Singh, Suva
Too many young people are wasting precious time on social media these days expecting everything to be handed to them on a silver platter.

Ads for no longer employed
Dhirendra Prasad, Lautoka
Many advertisements are seen in our daily newspapers regarding officers no longer employed by companies.
Added to this notice is that the company would not be liable for any transactions carried out by such persons.
Can the consumer council or any other relevant institution explain if the companies would still accept payments yet to be made to the company by clients through dealings by the officers who no longer serve the said company?
Is it necessary to publicise such cases to the general public or the clients could be informed internally? By the way such advertisements/notices do gain much needed revenue for the publishers. Is it only right to publish names of officers no longer employed or should they also publish names of new recruits as well. I may be wrong but no harm in getting issues clarified.

Littering laws and Minister Bala
Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
The minister for Local Government Parveen Bala is taking the littering and environment impact very seriously, thus having a meeting with all the special administrators and CEO of all city and town council. I am glad that he has appointed somebody from the environment department who will visit every town and city in Fiji to help beautify it.
My main concern is how efficient is our environment department? Some time ago the water at Marine Drive in Lautoka turned red, blue, yellow and black in colour and it has taken the environment department more then six months to even take the perpetrators to task.
As usual the blame game between the Water Authority and one of the business house started but I am told no solution or fine was imposed by the environment department.
Mr Bala likes to get things done and he has done big improvements in Lautoka as a city administrator and as a Minister. I hope he looks into the operations of the environment department office in Lautoka.

Way world should be
Sovaia Pace, Sydney
It takes AU$15,000 (about F$23,907) to reserve a plot of land for burial here in Australia. Money is made even in death. Fiji is indeed the way the world should be.

Caring about babies
Parmesh Prasad, Suva
According to the World Health Organisation, world over 2.7 million babies die in what is called neonatal deaths and 2.6 million stillbirths are recorded every year. Compared to this, Fiji has done well for itself. Let’s appreciate our doctors and nurses for the good work they do daily.

Illegal cigarette traders
Nitin Prasad, Tamavua
People are still seen smoking at no smoking zones at the Suva Market and bus stand area. I believe there should be more Police officers patrolling in these areas so that we can stop this illegal practice.
Also, those who are caught selling loose cigarettes should be taken to task.

Old versus modern design
Dr Joel Trazo, Suva
I noticed along the Suva – Nausori area is the proliferation of makeshift market stalls.
It is an eyesore considering how it is assembled and the old materials that they use.
If we look at the makeshift sheds at the front of the Tebara complex, it looks like a hurricane just passed through it.
I’m not against them selling, but authorities should make the vendors comply with a uniform market stall design.
There is beauty in uniformity.

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