Lest We Forget

Isireli Bolaniveimau, Lautoka

As showcased in the Bible all light and life in the universe comes from God.

His blessings are like rays of light from the sun.

Interestingly enough there are three events that have some input and impact on our day-to-day activities.

The first one … back in 1987 after the first coup, the bodyguard for the late Tui Nayau Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Inspec­tor Babu Singh, during a brief stopover at the Hyatt International (now War­wick), was cornered with a question by an Indo-Fijian staff member who asked about his (Inspector’s Singh’s) thoughts on the Ratu Mara-Rabuka meeting at Pa­cific Harbour.

Inspector Singh’s two-word reply was straight to the point, “No comment”.

I was there.

Thirty-one years later on 10/10/2018 I viewed the formalities for the Fiji Day celebrations at Subrail Park, Labasa, and the same evening saw a glittering rain­bow over Lautoka City.

I was there.

On 11/11/2018 I was present at Viseisei Village, Vuda, and noticed that the school in the village had the registration num­ber 1010. On the 11th hour (11am) a lone bugler played the two-minute last post/reveille. At the very same time a lone Pa­cific Harrier (Manulevu) appeared and then disappeared in the mist.

Once in a blue moon.

Lest we forget, Fijian war veterans de­serve recognition for their valour.

Drainage Problems

Amrit Singh, Nausori

Sunday night’s heavy downpour caused flooding of drains in Nausori, Nabua and other parts of towns in Fiji.

The problem is with the architectural designs of drains and engineering in Fiji. Recently the four-lane roads between Ko­ronivia and Suva is being built, but the underground drains lacks the nets to stop PET bottles and rubbish from going inside the drain.

Can the FRA tell its contractors to in­stall a net or mesh wire along the drain­age openings? Then the problem of block­ages can be prevented.

Secondly people still continue to throw rubbish in towns and cities.

Is this the way forward for our genera­tions? An upgrade is needed to drains along Nausori town. The town council needs to be proactive on this.

The densely-populated Nausori town rakes in all sorts of money through town rates, but I feel that money is not being put to good use.

The Nausori Town Council needs to wake up.

There is no beautification of the town, no good drainage and Syria Park normal­ly gets flooded whenever there is heavy rain.

Why can’t they make Syria Park level with the road? Put more soil and lime­stone and raise the level.

The whole council needs a clean-up.

Diwali Holiday

Shariff Shah, Savusavu

Can our Government please relook at its stand on the above.

I believe the timing is wrong.

Diwali is celebrated at night and throughout the night, so it’s only fair that the holiday falls on the following day.

Productivity/progress drop the follow­ing day. Understandably, with a lot of hangovers.

The children of all races are seen play­ing and enjoying deep into the night, only for some to miss school the following day.

Some might argue the point raised and with due respect they have solid ground to do so. But there are so many who pre­pare well in advance.

New Jobs

Sukha Singh, Labasa

How many new jobs were created in the Northern Division in the last four years?

I remember a Gujarati boy came to FEA as an attachee. He had a diploma in elec­trical engineering, but now I see him working as a shop assistant at Menoos.

But I would like to thank Government for approving more timber milling li­cences and creating at least some new jobs.

Daylight Saving

Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Suva

I just want to know if any portable saw­mills were given to landowners who own forests?

Maybe no party has thought about this idea.

Australia had their Daylight Saving one week before ours and we were only an hour difference with them, instead of the normal two hours difference.

Now that Fiji has opted to have its own daylight saving, the normal two-hour time difference with Australia remains.

Apart from enjoying and making use of the extra daylight hours, I believe we copy the daylight-saving idea for over­seas business purposes and transactions so that the normal time difference is maintained.

We normally make new year resolu­tions, so why don’t we Fijians make day­light saving resolutions, setting a goal we want to achieve by the end of the day­light-saving time?

The late Pastor Ilisoni Lalakobau would tell his church members that if they do not use time wisely or manage it prop­erly, they would be a waste time!

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj