Colo-i-Suva suggestions

Malcolm and Jill Pease Eltham,  New Zealand

As mid-aged visitors from New Zealand, with a strong interest in National Parks, we decided in travelling to Fiji to especially visit Colo-i-Suva Forest – so we booked into the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco Resort.

On the second day we decided to do a walking tour of the Park as advertised, but we were rather disappointed to find it NOT as we, as overseas visitors, had expected.

From the beginning, we would like to make some observations to help your department to make visits to your great park much safer and inviting.

1. The SIGNAGE – in particular the sign at the H.Q. entrance was very dirty, we drove right past and did not know where the office was until we arrived at the main gates and an office attendant came across to redirect us up the very busy road.

2. SIGNING IN – especially as we were older than the average walker, we should have had an ‘Intentions’ book to sign – which tracks we planned to walk etc. and most importantly what time we would hope to be back at the office to ‘Sign Out’. If we had an accident, no-one would have known to come and look for us. The office attendant DID NOT inform us that we could have hired a guide.

3. Compared with the map later supplied to us by the Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco resort, the green map of the tracks was almost completely unreadable and therefore of little use to us especially as there were very few clearly marked signs of which track to follow, how long it would take and how hard it might be.

4. Sign poles had no sings ‘where are we’? Fortunately for us one local man kindly stopped, pointed out the correct route and even helped us over some rough patches.

5. Very poorly maintained tracks in places. We did not expect perfect footpaths, but many of the steps, side support timbers were slippery, rotten and some had rusted nails which nearly snagged our feet.

While we accept that this is an ‘adventure’ type experience, there are various other aspects that need attention. We would urge that your department takes immediate steps, and we would suggest

also in consultation with the managers of the Rainforest Eco Resort, to seriously and urgently upgrade this magnificent asset to this area of Fiji – those visitors who use it are the eons who will spread the word world-wide as to just how good (or poor) it is.

Finally, please accept this letter as an observation, not a criticism.

Final Term

Kirti Patel, Lautoka

Now the students are gearing towards the final term of this school year.

The holidays has rounded off and the students and teachers are on the run again.

Many students would be slow to get to school after the hype they went through during the holidays.

For some it would be a day of excitement,  desperately waiting for the holidays to end to start their final term.

Now there is simply no time to waste. Let’s hope our students pull up their sleeves and get out of the holiday mood and start catching up to focus on their studies.

It is understood the first week might go at a snail’s pace for some but eventually they will come back on track with enthusiasm. There is a big picture which is the seven long week holidays that can be used as a motivation factor.

A few more weeks and the big bash of the Christmas holidays will be there to enjoy.

Let’s hope students will make good use of the school library to enhance their reading skills and assist them in their studies.

Let’s hope the free education initiative of our Government is put to a better use.

Students please be careful on the roads and do cross very carefully.

Let’s hope the Police Officers will be around to guide our little ones.

We wish all the students and teachers the very best for this term.

May God bless you all.

Political promises

Narayan Reddy, Lautoka

A lot of new promises are coming.

It looks like that at the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018 will be a year full of promises.

Uncle Noji told me to be very careful with all the promises because some promises will have a lie attached to them.

Jaywalking

Nitin Nilesh Prasad, Suva

Jaywalking and illegal parking or stopping continue to be major concerns during peak traffic hours in Suva City.     

Everyday in Suva people are rushing everywhere. People need to know the dangers of jaywalking in our towns and cities and even in our very own communities. Jaywalking is dangerous.

It is our responsibility as the youths of today and tomorrow to see that this issue is tackled.

I believe there should be more enforcement officers and Police Officers patrolling in Suva City so that we can stop this problem.

Poor Status of Diabetic Centre

Dewan Chand, Suva

I write to express my deep disappointment with the state of affairs at the Diabetic Centre, CWM Hospital in Suva, just opposite the maternity wing.

It is housed in a dilapidated old colonial wooden building which seems to have been  in a state of disrepair for a long time.

It lacks modern toilet facilities and other amenities which could be helpful for the staff and the patients who visit the clinic on a regular basis.

Congestion inside and outside the building is so obvious but the authorities concerned do not seem to notice it.

On any clinic day finding a parking spot inside the precincts of the Diabetic Centre is a nightmare.

Patients are forced to park on the footpath or simply clog the entrance to the clinic.

This state of affairs has gone on for far too long and it is time to speak out loud and clear.

I am diabetic and visit the clinic on a regular basis and it hurts to see the neglect of the premises. On a rainy day the area gets bogged and patients have to wade through mud to the building. You can well imagine the plight of those who cannot walk easily.

After attending the clinic, patients have to go to the hospital pharmacy,which is located on the ground floor of the new wing adjacent to the Extension Street.

The car park in front of this building has been in a state of disrepair for a long time. There are gaping craters full of water through which the vehicles have to pass.

For taxis and small vehicles the broken blocks and cement edges can inflict severe damage.

All along Extension Street yellow lines have been marked to prohibit parking. However, this is a futile exercise as it is constantly violated due to the shortage of parking spaces for many who visit CWM on a daily basis.   

Extension Street is indeed a high demand area and action must be taken to provide for parking spaces.

Planners must put on a thinking cap and find solutions to this very serious problem.

I respectfully suggest that the Diabetic Centre be demolished and a multi story car park is built there to meet the increasing demands forparking.

This modern building with lift facilities can still house the Diabetic Centre on the ground floor. The other alternative would be to demolish the two government quarters besides the entrance to the Emergency section and have the multi-story car park built here.

I make these suggestions in the belief that that CWM is the pride of our nation and it must provide the best.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj