Terrorist

Amenatave Yaconisau, Delainavesi

I welcome the decision of the PM not to allow terrorist Neil Prakash into the country because of his association with Islamic State(FS 3/1/19). I hope he is made persona non grata by any State because he is a risk to society.

The Cold

Floyd Robinson, Suva

Have we become so used to the air conditioning that we forget to turn it off when necessary? Passing through at least two commercial banks in downtown Suva the other day, one noticed that the buildings were very cold.

The weather outside was cold, windy and rainy. Standing inside the bank was like being in a freezer.

Neither the staff nor customers would dare say a thing about the temperature even though it was freezing cold inside the banks.

Maybe we love the cold. Maybe we have had so much sunshine in recent weeks that it’s hard to refuse the cold. All in all, it’s the cold and sometimes our thoughts are cold.

Maternity, Paternity

Leave Initiative

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi

Now five days paternity leave for the first time for fathers with an increased 84 to 98 days maternity leave for all mothers and realistically this is another user friendly government policy.

No one is now claiming that this initiative is a vote buying exercise.

But, sadly before our 2018 National Election from SODELPA, the NFP and the balance of all those failed political opposition party candidates labelled the proactive FijiFirst government policies and initiatives as vote buying.

Husbands can now take their entitlement of five paternity leave days apart from their annual leave to share the burden at home in taking care of the many other household chores.

They can also share the load while mum can concentrate on their newborn and together enjoy the spoils with the $1000 incentive for all newborns. This will come in handy for low income earners and ordinary villagers alike.

Medical doctors advise that it takes a week for the mother to recover after giving birth and the five working days paternity leave is a physical and psychological boost for both the couple including the early bonding time.

Such a wonderful, caring and visionary initiative by our Government. Why wait Fijians?

You’re now being paid to make more future Fijians, but I firmly believe with the availability of such incentives we as a nation can for the first time in our history be able to reach the million mark target in our population count similar to that of Fiji Tourism’s million tourist numbers target by 2020.

The ACCF or Accident Compensation Commission Fiji, which is now tasked to administer all the workplace injuries and deaths including those who incur injuries and deaths resulting from all motor vehicle accidents are now being conveniently compensated without having to go through those time consuming and money wasting exercises in a Magistrate’s Court. A wonderful service and gesture indeed.

Innovative and brave leadership from our Government, the Singapore today took 60 years to slowly materialise to what it is under the auspicious rule of their first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, there was no compromise and he relentlessly pursued their vision despite stern opposition to become what they are today and so will the Bainimarama leadership.

Absolutely nothing wrong, it is positive and is the right thing to do for our future generations.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj