Pacific Eye Institute

Dewan Chand, Suva

Pacific Eye Institute, located in Brown Street, Suva, is a vital national health asset.

It provides excellent professional eye services to thousands of patients who crowd there on a daily basis.

On a working day I have never seen the outer waiting room or the inner waiting room empty ever.

Patients are always jostling to find a seat while the dedicated medical staff are busy serving the patients from the reception desk to the doctor’s room. Names are called out and patients are sent to their respective rooms to be treated.

There is always an element of courtesy and smile on their faces. I must commend the staff there for their patience and professional attitude. Thank you nurses, doctors and other ancillary staff.

There is a taxi stand just outside the Pacific Eye Institute and it provides excellent service to the visitors who come there.

For those who bring their cars, there is ample parking space along the Brown Street as the parking area inside is very small and half of it is reserved for the staff.

Most patients seem to be coming from distant places and from the lower income bracket. Taxi seems to be the most popular form of transportation as it is very convenient.

Attached to the Pacific Eye Institute is the Diabetic Clinic as well. Together they provide training ground for the trainee nurses and doctors. It is interesting to see that these trainees from the Fiji National University are keen to learn the tricks of the trade.

However, I must point out that a number of disabled patients also come to the institute on wheel chairs.

There is no ramp to cater for their needs as they disembark from their vehicles. They have to be hauled up by the persons in attendance or the bystanders.

Furthermore, once inside there is no room for their priority attendance. They just sit there and wait. The wooden benches in the outer waiting area are very poorly designed. It has only two cross pieces at the back.

Sitting there for long, as usually is the case, gives one a back ache. One more cross piece must be added to make it comfortable. The inner waiting area has very comfortable wooden benches. Could the authorities please attend to the issues I have raised.

In conclusion I must say that we Fijians are fortunate to have this Pacific Eye Institute located in Suva.

Confiscated drugs

Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka

So where and how are the Fiji Police Force disposing the confiscated/seized hard drugs, cocaine, meth etc? Including the cocaine that was recently found in the Lau group?

I believe that they will reply and not be madua (ashamed) like those at the Ministry of Fisheries.

Aussie Democracy

Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi

A writer on the above subject (FS 28/8) seems to be selective on the constitution whenever it suits his purpose.

He should look at section 94 and apply it fairly not when suitable.

It was a constitutional provision not an unnecessary and unwarranted effort.

Opposition Manifesto

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Namaka, Nadi

National Federation Party vice president Seini Nabou is at it again, criticising Government relevant to the Vunato Dump fire.

Is there anything else good she can talk about? She is harping at something she absolutely can do nothing about as the Ministry of Environment is already doing its level best with other stakeholders to bring it under control.

I would like to ask the NFP leaders Pio Tikoduadua, Biman Prasad, Seini Nabou, SODELPA’s Sitiveni Rabuka, Ro Teimumu Kepa and Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu to please explain to the Fijian voters what has happened to your 2014 Party manifestos?

How far have you managed to implement those promises registered in it or are they all just false promises and lies? You are all at it again now in 2018, but your small number of supporters have not changed as they still believe.

What happens when you lose again this year?

Visa Lodgment

Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Suva

It is a relief to learn that those who use the Australia Visa Application Centres in Fiji run by TT Services, do not have to bother with getting their original documents photo-copied.

This is because from last Monday, all documents including your passport are simply scanned and all returned to you, after paying the normal lodgment fees and having your biometrics taken.

The security officer in their Cumming Street office in Suva explained that TTServices is merging with VFS Global which currently handles visa applications to Canada and the United Kingdom.

As currently available with visa applications via VFS Global, one can now track your visa application to Australia online, revealing the date you lodged, the date your application was sent to be processed and its results.

Having used both services: TTServices and VFS Global, I am hoping that VFS Global gets to change their lodgment system for Canada and follow the current scanning of applicant’s documents.

Today a visitor applying for a Tourist Visa to Canada has to pay CAD$100 online before paying VFS Global nearly FJ$200 for all documents to be sent to the Canadian Embassy in Australia for processing.

Are they willing to do what TTServices are doing (scan all documents) and do away with the FJ$200 to be paid by the applicant?

We will soon see as the merger progresses, whether we visa applicants to Australia, Canada and the UK will be paying more or less?

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj