Salute to Captain Aneil

Roy Chetty, Seattle

I read with great interest and fondness the article on Captain Aneil Kumar (FS 6/1, Business liftout Page B8), a true pioneer of leisure cruise industry and ferry boat tourism in Fiji.

I witnessed Captain Aneil’s rise through the ranks to where he is today not only at his company South Sea Cruises for more than 43 years and how he etched a name in the industry.

Denarau Island, initially had just the one hotel, The Regent of Fiji, and the marina was ironically the beachfront and loading was via long boats. That’s the start of ferry operations to the Mamanucas, and we were both intimately involved.

His commitment to providing safety to all passengers and vessels and sophisticated knowledge of the marine environment was indeed a beacon and,ensured the traveling public was in safe hands.

I had great pleasure of working with Captain Aneil at South Sea Cruises at Pacific Harbour and Denarau Island.

We had both seen the growth of tourism in the Islands since early 1970s and experienced developments in the marine industry as it grew.

From sailing ships such as the Seaspray, of television fame, to the former World War II relic,the Fairmile Stardust 1 and 2 we were under his command.

Through “rough and calm seas” he steered nothing but excellence. As operations manager at the then Pettit family-operated South Sea Cruises I relied on his expertise and passion for the seas.

I wish Captain Aneil and his family well and hope he continues the fine and high standards he has brought to the industry.

Rule of Law

Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi

I totally agree with the Prime Minister that his government will stand by the rule of law (FS 6/1).

His concern comes amidst the politicisation of unions by politicians who are destabilising industrial relations and creating à potential force in the country.

Minister for Labour and Employment Jone Usamate has ruled the stand-off (in the Air Terminal Serves saga) as an illegal strike. Collective bargaining and consensus have gone overboard.

We need someone to facilitate mediation. This is a better remedy.

The opponents who use unions as a basis for political support, although personal animosity is obvious and destructive.

If workers continue to sit down and stay away from work after the labour and employment minister’s ruling, then management should act on misconduct and, the adverse effect the strike is having on the  economy as grounds for insubordination before action is taken for wilful disobedience and neglect of duty.

Someone has to end it soon.

ATSET, FASA and ATS

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi

I write to urge all Air Terminal Services employees who are members of their employees trust and their union at FASA to start asking questions to their past and present executives because 11 years of negotiation from 2006 to 2017 is just unacceptable and points to incompetency on their part.

These are the very officials you should be pointing a finger at, including your current secretary Vili Finau.

I personally believe the current set of executives and board were not the same ones that were there 11 years ago.

Or is it fair to say they had inherited the same demands that have resulted in you taking things upon yourselves and giving rise to the vacation of your workplace on your own accord?

Where were FTUC president Dan Urai and general secretary Felix Anthony then? Were they aware of your shortfalls and grievances?

Why have they conveniently decided to openly be part of you now? Is it only because of the 2018 National Election and your issue is secondary.

I plead with the striking workers to return to work as both Dan and Felix won’t even feel a pinch from their well-paid salary from all your many years of union membership fees.

Strike or no strike, both live a very comfortable life with its perks unlike you and your families.

These top brass have again miserably failed to mediate an amicable outcome.

The stalemate has lasted for more than three weeks.  It would be more fruitful and effective to return to work and negotiate from the inside.

I believe it is counterproductive to sit and picket from the outside.

The call is for members to ask for an AGM of the ATS Employees Trust and remove Viliame Finau as your secretary.

Toilet Water

Sukha Singh, Labasa

Since we use electric motors for pumping the water we drink and use for cleaning and flushing toilets why can’t we use seawater for flushing toilets.

Since all our plumbing is done with PVC there will be no rusting of pipes. If there is a freshwater cut we can always bath with the seawater.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj