Letters To The Editor 8th October, 2018

Rabuka right
ET Smith,
Davuilevu
SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka has finally said what Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been saying for years in Parliament – Fiji’s debt today is an accumulation of debts taken by all previous governments.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum has stood inside and outside Parliament talking about how a country accumulates debt. He was always criticised by Opposition for this, including members of SODELPA.
But Rabuka is able to read the tea leaves, feel the wind and knows lying will not take them far. If only some more could see the light.
Modern thinkers
Naca Nabutu,
Naulu
Prime Minister Bainimarama and Attorney-General Sayed-Khaiyum are modern thinkers. I heard them speak about their vision for Fiji. I have no doubt FijiFirst will win.
I am now focussed on who PM and A-G will choose as their Ministers.
We need those who can embrace the modern way of thinking, those who can embrace revolutionary policies such as the civil service reform, modern ways of doing agriculture, modernise local governments. Let’s move Fiji forward!
Confiscated fish
Norman Yee
Martintar, Nadi
First I was surprised to hear that the confiscated fish was to be burned or buried as stated by the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries and now the Minister says it might be used for research?
Earlier he said they would be given away.
What a waste! For months we lived without the best fish in the world and now the fish will not fill anyone’s belly.
Why not auction the fish to restaurants or have some given to old people’s homes or orphanages?
At least someone benefits. Not the illegal fisherman, but others.
We should not copy other countries that destroyed millions of dollars of illegal ivory for instance, but rather we should make good use of these precious commodities.
Waste not, want not.
Responsible citizens
Floyd Robinson,
Toorak
While many joined the long queues in the mad rush to apply for voter registration cards, replacements and changes to details, a common message emerged on Monday.
Several of these voters I bumped into had mentioned Elections Officers becoming a little moody.
Some citizens were told off for leaving this to the last minute. Meanwhile, most citizens look forward to the Election Day when they can express their constitutional right of voting for individuals whom they feel would best lead our beloved nation over the next four years.
Whatever one’s views about candidates and parties, let’s not forget our responsibility as citizens in respecting the choices of families and communities that make up our diverse nation.
After all, united we stand and divided we fall.
X generation
M S Kaleca
Nakasi
We now live in a world in where mobile phones and high tech gadgets rule.
I remember while growing up that children loved playing outside.
Flying kites and playing was a norm. We had the usual marble games, the “vaqiqi” tyre, spinning tops and making boats out of coconut branches which were all so much fun.
Nowadays, what I call the ‘Android X’ generation play 90 per cent of their games on their mobile phones and high tech gadgets. Even during family reunions these kids are glued to their mobile games and won’t interact.
Some have become so addicted to their mobile games that they don’t even socialise anymore with their cousins and relatives.
If we as parents are not careful and won’t take the necessary steps to counter this trend, I’m afraid that we might be losing the next generation to this addiction.
We must not let our children become like zombies and sit on a corner staring at a screen for many hours of the day. There is more to life than those games they are playing.
Give your children books to read and interact with them more.
There are so many things we can do to utilise their time to the fullest.
My late mother always said: “That an idle mind is the devils playground”.
Water source
Wise Muavono
Lautoka
Where is the Lautoka City Council sourcing the water for the fountain at the Post Office roundabout, hospital roundabout and Natabua junction?
Not from the main water line I hope, because aren’t we suppose to be conserving water ? Over to you Lautoka City Council.
Be on guard
Dharmendra Kumar
Suva
Satan has been deceiving men and women for thousands of years, not because he keeps coming up with new and more elaborate schemes, but because we keep falling for the same lies and temptations.
In the same manner we have to be careful of the same old politicians who use the same old lies and temptations to get the votes. Once they get the votes we become the forgotten generation.
God calls us to be on guard, paying attention, and not allowing the enemy to slip inside our guard.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Be alert to the hidden temptations of politicians so you can see through the deceit. A few ways to identify them is to see their track record, their unreasonable promises and their testimonies.
Ratepayers plight
Sukha Singh
Labasa
Could the good minister for towns and cities and new towns tell us how much more time he needs to put in new regulations before he allows us, the ratepayers, to have our own councilors?
Can somebody give me his phone number?
Termites in Labasa
Tejal Shania Singh,
Labasa
The exceptionally dangerous termite, which originally showed up in Lautoka in 2009 and had an outbreak in the year 2010, has made expensive damages to properties in Fiji.
Asian Subterranean Termites are the second most dangerous creepy-crawlies in the world, but one thing good about them is that they do not bite people.
Termites found in the two main islands of Fiji have become a national issue.
A biosecurity operation, which is currently known as operation Kadivuka, was introduced in 2010 and from this operation about 150 recruits were reshuffled from many Government ministries and were made to be involved into this operation.
People can be made aware about these insects if they find sawdust-like powder near doors and windows, shredded wings left near doors and windows, tiny holes on wood surfaces or paint that has started to bubble on wood surfaces.
However, many houses can be protected if the Termites Operations Command Centre or the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji is contacted immediately if a termite infested area is discovered.
To put a halt to this pest conquest, team officials of Operation Kadivuka should delouse all ships arriving into all the ports in Fiji and have approval documents given out from their preceding port confirming that they are free from termite infestation.
This is a preventative measure taken to control more infestation in Fiji.
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