Thank you to Fijian newspapers and magazine publications

Taitusi Sokiveta,  Phoenix, Arizona

I totally agree with retired Fijian school teacher Mr Ali who now resides in New Zealand on his reference to Fijian newspapers.

It’s holding and reading the newspaper that brings that feeling of being home compared to reading it on a computer or mobile device.

I am an old-fashioned person and grew up during the Colonia era. I only learnt how to get online after my son and grandchildren taught me how.

In my school days, we didn’t have computers. And whenever I visit Fiji I used to load a whole suitcase full of newspapers and magazines and read every page including the advertisements on the back.

In Arizona in March every year, we have the Arizona Aloha festival at Tempe Town Lake, Phoenix. I would take all the Fijian newspapers to a booth or tent where passersby or interested people would stop by and read them. They included Polynesians, Australians, Kiwis, who had shown their appreciation of the newspapers. It’s so funny watching them read as if they had read it fresh off the press.

Today, the feeling of being home lingers at the sight of these publications. I always let those who come and read the newspapers during the festival take the copies home to their families in the hope that they too will feel the sense of being home.

So to Fijians, I say to you, newspapers are special to us. Thank you to all those who make Fijian newspapers and magazines possible and not forgetting the other Pacific island dailies and magazines too. It surely brings us closer to home, no matter what part of the world we live in.

Lautoka Police Station

Satish Nakched, Suva

Last weekend I was driving past the old Lautoka Police Station beside the Natabua High School and could not resist the temptation to stop and have a closer look at the place where I initially started off my career.

The premise was extensively damaged by the recent cyclone and is in ruins now.

The side gate was open and there were a few official Police vehicles and some private cars parked inside the compound and hoping to find someone I entered the yard because there was no entry prohibition notice.

I was walking down memory lane when I went past the Traffic Office, the Charge room and the Crime office. Upon seeing the canteen I could remember clearly the lamb flap curries that were cooked on a  continuous basis throughout and the only reason we ate it was because we were always broke and a lifeline was provided in terms of a temporary credit account by the caterer.

I entered the single men’s quarters at the back and found that most of the windows and doors were missing and the damaged furniture scattered everywhere.

What surprised me was the official Police records among the wreckage in the form of statements, summons and other very confidential documents.

There was also a wooden cabinet with glass doors upstairs that had old files in excellent condition and a table was placed against it, preventing the door from opening.

The documentation inside the locker contained sensitive information such as staff disciplinary cases, promotions and investigation dockets.

Some of the files had documentation regarding unsuccessful cases, the crime detection rates and other related information.

The sight scared me because there was no one there and I could be trespassing and left out immediately.

I believe that this happened because there was no proper documentation tracking device and disposal method used.

I believe when shifting to the new location all the files should have been moved as well, but in case of the obsolete documents proper procedural destruction methods should have been activated.

The old documents cannot be discarded as such, which needs urgent attention, the premises made secure and the gates locked.

Employment issues

Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi

I fully agree with Nemani Delaibatiki on his article on employment issues (FS 26/7) that the most contentious issue is contract.

Under section 22 of the Employment Relations Promulgation 2007(ERP 07), no employer may employ someone outside the Promulgation and maybe section 37(2) is also relevant.

But I don’t agree with him on the purpose of trade unions’ existence and also the differences between merit pay and pay based on Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

We all know that trade unions exist for their members and defend them from high prices and unemployment i.e it negotiates high wages and other compensatory measures.

Unemployment now concentrates mainly on the unskilled, young people with little to offer and does not affect all.

But rising prices affects us all with everyday purchases. Nemani Delaibatiki must also know the difference between merit pay and wage increases due to rises in prices measured by the consumer price index (CPI).

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj