Trades People shortage

Steven Chandra, Nasinu

I refer to a news article on TV about trades people shortage in Fiji.

Sales people in retail shops are better paid than trades people, and work being less tiring. Whereas trades people, who, after going through special training in vocational institutions, realise they earn less and do more tiring work. This will continue to be a problem and has been for many years if the pay issue isn’t addressed.

Happy New Year!

Spencer Robinson, Suva

Finally, it’s 2018. Hooray!

Have a happy and blessed New Year, Fiji.

A lot of lessons have been learnt from 2017, which would allow us to make the much needed changes for improvements in our daily lives.

One of the national spotlights for this year is the General Elections and perhaps its publicity in the media will be of high importance and prominence. This includes the respective campaigns from the various registered political parties who will be contesting this year’s general elections. All the best to these political parties and especially to the hardworking staff of the Fijian Elections Office.

In addition, one of the international spotlights would be the 2018 Gold Coast XXI Commonwealth Games to be held in April. This would be an exciting and rejuvenating event never to be missed. It will include 70 nations and territories with a total population of 2.1 billion’ (https://www.gc2018.com/games). Best wishes to the host country Australia and to all the athletes, officials, volunteers and partners.

All in all, let us put God first in everything we do and hope for the very best for this ‘big and exciting’ year.

National Tsunami Drill

Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Suva

We were told in September 27, 2017 that “a National Tsunami Drill will be conducted in Fiji in late October to raise levels of preparedness and practical evacuation experience for tsunamis.

Initiated by the Government to minimise disaster risks and the potential threats of tsunamis, the National Tsunami Drill will be a national exercise to test warning systems, communication systems, and evacuation plans for all coastal communities in Fiji.

This is an ambitious national undertaking, and the first time an entire Pacific nation has tested its national tsunami preparedness.

We were also told that the National Tsunami Drill was endorsed by Cabinet and that subject to Cabinet approval it could take place as early as October 27, 2017.

The year 2017 is now behind us but the million dollar question is, was one done?

We are told that 5 to 10 tsunami sirens would be installed in the greater Suva area, as we currently have only two – one in Lami and one in Laucala Bay.

Government must fast track the installation of the tsunami sirens and the national tsunami drill to go with it.

We will all need to hear the tsunami siren and for those in the shoreline to make it to higher grounds as soon as possible because we are told that “…after a local earthquake, a tsunami could reach Fiji in as few as eight minutes, causing massive loss of life, infrastructure and property”.

As a nation, we are not prepared for that possibility and we need to walk the talk right now!

Municipal Elections

John Brown, Lautoka

According to the Local Government Minister, Praveen Bala, a team will be set up in January this year to review the Local Government Acts.

I very well remember Minister Bala’s maiden speech in Parliament when he said that the local government election would be held soon.

It has been a long time since he made that speech and I am still waiting for municipal elections.

Change Parties

Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi

It’s not whether you breach the Political Parties Registration Act 2013 or not, but it’s the ruthlessness in dealing with party supporters and rivals.

The intra-party battle is usual, but such a callous attitude is not necessary for defeating political rivals in competitive elections.

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