Land Swap

Senaca Nabutu,   Naulu

Viliame Gavoka needs to realize the whole idea of communally owned land is that it is not only for the people who he spoke to who so called supported the land swap but also for the future generations.

How can Mr Gavoka and his fellow SODELPA MPs stand in Parliament and support iTaukei rights but openly support the complete alienation of iTaukei land?

I fully support the 2013 Constitution and this Government for giving this to us which will ensure my children’s rights to their land is protected.

Momi Land Row

Viliame Gavoka,   Nadroga

In fairness, your headline today (14/6) on the Momi land swap, should have highlighted other aspects of the transaction that accrued to Tokatoka Nasau.

Firstly, the swap meant that they got back land equal to what they gave.

And secondly, there were a host of commercial opportunities exclusive for the Tokatoka which would have placed them among the wealthiest resource owners in Fiji. 

These were exciting days when Qarase’s 50/50 vision by 2020 was taking hold; aimed at bringing parity in commerce for the natives to others by 2020.

I was chief executive officer for the Fiji Visitors Bureau and sat in some of the dialogue, and witnessed the upbeat mood during that period, not only with the Tokatoka Nasau, but all across the Vanua Nalolo.

Momi was of a different magnitude and we were proud of the manner with which Tokatoka Nasau embraced the ‘big picture’, to secure the opportunities for wealth not only for themselves, but for the Vanua Nalolo in its entirety.

As we see things in Momi today, and if we are serious about the welfare of the vanua; the FNPF resort sitting on a manmade lagoon on the qoliqoli, should pay a percentage of its gross takings to the Vanua Nalolo, as done on land based resorts. I’ve highlighted this in Parliament.

World Elder Abuse

Awareness Day

Neelz Singh,    Lami

I was always taught to respect the elders – weren’t you? But how many of you are really respecting the elderly people around you? What reasons do you have for not doing so? I ask you because I’ve often seen many elders in the society not being treated well.

I’ve even heard of people not respecting the elderly – especially the young generation nowadays.

And that’s not all; even family members sometimes fail to spend family time with them, which saddens me.

I strongly feel that respect towards the elderly, their fortitude, wisdom, knowledge, and grace should be instilled in us all, though sadly it doesn’t happen.

There may be a few exceptions as I also don’t believe that growing old is a sign becoming wiser, but we shouldn’t show disrespect for seniors in any case – isn’t it?

While the taboo topic of elder abuse has started to gain visibility across the world, it remains one of the least investigated types of violence in national surveys, and one of the least addressed in national action plans.

Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the international community.

Elder maltreatment can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.

The incidence of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is commemorated each year on 15 June to highlight one of the worst manifestations of ageism and inequality in our society, elder abuse. 

It represents the one day in the year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on some of our older generations

“We were taught to respect everyone, especially those who were older and wiser than we were from whom we could learn.” ~ BeNeca Ward. “Karma – What goes around Comes Around”

Church Vandalism

Tomasi Boginiso,   Nasinu

We always feel emotional when places of worship are being vandalised, despite whatever religion it may be its a house of God where people come together to worship. There are always a few people who have no respect at all for these places of worship.

The Assemblies of God Church (AOG) in Labasa was allegedly vandalised and the worshipers only found out when they were going to church on the Sunday morning after the perpetration of the offence.

These people need to face the full brunt of the law.

Thank you for your thoughts

on 7s

Kirti Patel,  Lautoka

Thank you Pita Baleilomaloma (FS 14/06) for you thoughts about our players. I totally agree with you.

Learn from Watching

Sukha Singh,  Labasa

Gurjeet Singh, a renowned soccer coach, and Roy Krishna, want all soccer players in Fiji to watch the world cup and learn from it. I hope it was that simple.

Assenting

Amenatave Yaconisau,  Delainavesi

Claims of data accuracy is bound to happen during the election period but one thing is clear that I don’t have to agree with you even if data is from God.

Dissent is a characteristic of the democracies and you don’t have to concur with others as long as you can defend your viewpoint.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj