Champagne rugby for Fiji

Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu

What a weekend of rugby it has been for Fiji. It shows that Fijian rugby has a bright future.

Firstly the Fiji Airways Drua demolished Brisbane 66 -5 and in the Under-20 championship, our boys’ thrashed Samoa 58-8.

Congratulations to both the teams.

Our national coach should have his books full of the number of talents that have just surfaced.

Watching the two teams, it seems that our old open play rugby seems to be reintroduced and that is what Fijian rugby is known.

Vinaka vakalevu to the two teams and all the best to the Fijian Drua team on  tour this weekend. Go Fiji Go.

Insurance

Narayan Reddy, Lautoka

The comprehensive insurance for motor vehicle that vehicle owners pay to Government is a good thing.

The payouts are faster without any problems.

I am sure whoever came with the idea of government doing comprehensive third party insurance did his homework well because with the ever-increasing number of motor vehicles on our road it can become a win-win situation for all — the Government, the vehicle owners and the accident victims.

Can a similar insurance package be offered to home-owners? The Government gave so much in home care help.

Imagine if that same money is used as an insurance premium for low income earners.

If that happens then the Government would not need to worry about giving money during natural disasters. It’s just an idea.

St Giles Hospital vs drugs, alcohol

Taitusi Sokiveta, Phoenix, Arizona

For those who suffer from a mental illness because of drug and alcohol abuse or have an addiction, I think  they need a separate hospital or facility from St Giles.

With that in mind, the specialised facility will be able to give these patients with these addictions special treatment and attention.

For example, the Betty Ford Clinic in California, a treatment hospital for those who have become dependent on alcohol, drugs or both.

This facility is not a mental asylum for the criminally insane or any other type of mental illness.

It is a licensed chemical dependency recovery hospital with detox services and treatment programmes for alcohol and drug addiction.

Even celebrities have been admitted at this rehabilitation facility.

Movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Anthony Hopkins and Nick Nolte, including singer Eric Clapton, Tyler of Aerosmith, Natalie Cole (daughter of Nat King Cole), Ray Charles and many more.

Here the addicts go through a 12-step programme to deal with their drug or alcohol addiction.

I feel that those who are born with mental illness or suffer from any form of severe mental illness like schizophrenia, if medicine does not work for them, than they should be admitted to the St Giles Hospital.

Even the former US President, George Bush Junior, after dealing with his alcoholism stood for president.

I believe that mental asylum hospitals need to be separated from drug and alcohol addiction facilities.

I leave the idea to the authorities to ponder on.

Seek help

Wise Muavono, Lautoka

Suicide is an unnatural way to die. For the loved ones left behind, there is more guilt, more ‘what ifs?’ and more ‘I should haves’.

It leaves feelings of rejection and abandonment along with the sorrow and pain.

To all those people who have ever lost a loved one to suicide, my deepest condolences.

To students thinking of committing suicide, please seek help.

You deserve every joy the world has to offer.

I’m sorry for what life has thrown at you, but it will get better. You should be around to enjoy it.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj