Landowners victory

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi

Members of the Yavusa e Tolu from Narewa Village in Nadi must be congratulated for their High Court case victory in Suva.

It is the first for Fiji in seeking clarity and assistance from our justice system, and the verdict is clear cut relevant to their grievances highlighted in this newspaper some four weeks ago.

Justice has prevailed for Queen’s Counsel Julian Moti and the resource owners, but iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) will now have to pay for the landowners costs as determined by the court.

This is a landmark decision because it gives these iTaukei landowners recognition and respect for their rights.

Landowners’ complaints against TLTB specifically in the suppression of information from where they had given up their land for very important tourism, commercial and industrial developments that will have positive impacts in our country and its economy.

I do hope the attitude of those at all TLTB offices around the country – from its headquarters in Suva through to all its regional offices – will now change or they will see a new wave of court cases for the same.

The landowners have rightfully earned the respect.

The positive aspect in all this is that the Yavusa e Tolu received their birthday present for free where all their legal costs will be paid by TLTB.

What have we learnt here?

Very simple! They said [TLTB] it is a private business dealing between private Fiji registered investment companies and it should be left at that. Wrong, those businesses are thriving from the very consent given to them and TLTB in the first place by those landowners and they have every right to know what transpires on their land full stop their right to information.

Power to the landowners.

Tavakubu market

John Brown, Lautoka

The new Tavakubu Market in Lautoka City is completed with a new washroom and running water for the vendors and public users in general.

I was told by some vendors that they will not be charged stall fees or for using the washroom.

May I ask why there are double standards for vendors operating in Lautoka City market?

Can someone please explain why we have to pay for stall fees in the city market?  Even those who sell from outside the market pay fees.

Very soon most vendors will establish makeshift stalls at the Tavakubu Market because they do not have to pay fees.

Minister Parveen Bala, can you please play your cards right and treat everyone equally.

Show me your friends

Dharmendra Kumar, Suva

While in my late teens, my pastor asked me one Sunday evening: “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.”

This message stuck with me and I pray that every parent guide their children with this simple message.

It’s an interesting thought, isn’t it?

What does this mean to you?

Take a look at your network. Take a look at your friends.

Who do you spend the most time with, and how do they make you feel? Will they help you achieve your goals?

You are who you hang out with. You may not think so, but who you associate with is who you become.

Your friends influence you on everything – from what music you listen to, to the choices you make.

Surround yourself with those who you look up to and want to be like, because chances are if you are around them enough then you will pick habits from them.

You become them. You become your friends. Surround yourself with people who lift you and who have a positive outlook on life.

Confiscated fish

Norman Yee, Nadi

All the fuss about the confiscated fish!

It is obvious where it went. When Police confiscated drugs they burn them. I read when overseas authorities seized tons of ivory they burn them!

Here there is deadly silence from the authorities.

If the fish has gone into someone’s stomach, may I suggest to the minister responsible to take action – by either charging the culprits with theft as the Police do when drugs in their charge goes missing or alternatively they pay an equivalent amount to charities such as the Red Cross, or face the court.

Better still sell it to the market vendors and the proceeds go to Red Cross. And we the consumers benefit.

This way the fishermen lose out so he won’t be catching the fish again and the fish won’t be wasted by being burnt or going into someone’s belly for free.

Weighing machine

Amrit Singh, Bau Road

In light of the growing concern about diabetes in our country, I urge the relevant authorities to install weighing machines at parks such as the My Suva Park.

The weight balance should also determine the amount of fat the body has.

The problem in our country is that some citizens do not even know their weight.

Trust me, hardly anyone owns a bathroom scale. We munch on so many calories, yet we fail to neither measure our height or our weigh to find out our BMI (body mass index).

If more weighing machines are installed around parks which are highly resistance to mechanical hinderance, it will be worth it.

People will be able to know their weight and they will understand the importance of their body weight.

If you have a BMI in the green zone according to your height, than you will be out of danger from many non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

It’s high time that citizens of this country need to have their body weight checked.

Some people hardly check their body weight, some even in the past five to six years.

And that is the sign that it is too late, because by then you would have become pre-diabetic or have enlarged your heart.

I hope that Government installs weighing machines in major parks around the country.  Putting 20 cents fee per checkup is an ideal charge.

I know people will not say 20cents is a lot to know your body weight.

Littering

Suresh Chand, Nadi  

Seven days a week council workers are deployed to clear litter off the streets in the tourist town of Nadi.

You can imagine the costs involved in carrying out this exercise, which is avoidable if littering is controlled in the first place. I think litter comes from people in the town. They throw trash as they wish because enforcement is not there.

Instead of having cleaners it would be sensible if we had litter enforcement officers in the streets.

I am sure with their visibility indiscriminate throwing of rubbish will be drastically reduced in no time.

I believe once we start booking the violators as provided under the law, not only you collect additional income but deter others from dirtying your town.

In my humble view, this is the most sensible thing to do.

Judging from the present situation, one assumes that council either lacks the manpower to implement the enforcement or is not bothered tackling the ever-growing litter problem head-on. If we leave it like this, forget about cleanliness.

Nadi is set to be declared a city this year, but before that let’s put our house in order. Start at the bus station and market and don’t forget the main drain.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj