Royalties
Simeli Bose, Lautoka
I am sure many landowners in Fiji will join me in welcoming the news and congratulating the Government for finally, after a long long time, set the royalties on mining at rates very favourable to the owners.
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We would be amiss on our part if we do not specifically mention, the Minister for Finance and Attorney-General, Aiyaz Khaiyum, for the lead role he had played in the preparation of the Bill and its passage through Parliament. Hon. Khaiyum we commend and thank you for this achievement.
He is right in saying that this has been on the table for a long long time, ever since independence.
Governments then did not have the commitment and the guts to do the right thing! The mining companies used to dictate to the Government what to do including payment of subsidies.
Fiji like other British colonies in the Pacific like the Solomon Islands had this archaic formula of giving peanuts as royalties with scant regard for landowners.
When Papua New Guinea adopted a more liberal formula, delegation after delegation of ministers and officials from Fiji visited PNG to see for themselves and see whether they could adopt a similar system. Alas, those trips became just expensive incursion trips at the tax-payers expenses as nothing came out of those trips.
Now this Government, the Acting Prime Minister and Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, in particular, can proudly boast that it was during his watch as Minister for Finance and Attorney-General that this historic landmark legislation has finally been achieved. In my humble view, this action speaks volumes of the FijiFirst commitment to improve the benefits that landowners derive from their resource.
So, congratulations and God bless, and as my nephew, Master Saimon Naivalu, the ever popular public announcer is fond of saying, “Wananavu”.
I have the feeling that at the rate the Government is going, that we the people of Fiji should expect more to come in the future if they continue to govern. I am definitely looking forward to FijiFirst adopting the challenge that the former US President Ronald Regan used to say: “You aint seen nothing yet - Fiji!”
Rights protection
Amena Yaconisau, Delainavesi
I know the protection of civil rights is important, but the laws of this country must protect us from recklessness.
I know the law is impartial and will protect the State and people's interest rather than challenge it. How else can we have obedience? Equality and Liberty for all!
Equal standard
Dharmendra Kumar, Suva
Differences in age, race, education, or background sometimes matter.
However, God does not treat us that way. He judges justly, without regard to who we are or where we come from. He expects the same from his children.
God demands that we use the same standard in treating others.
“If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scriptures, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors" - James 2: 8-9
The world around us is divided by many ways, and too often people are treated differently because of something over which they have no control at all.
We all stand equal before God and we all should be viewed by a fair and equal standard.
We must not allow anything that stops us from treating all people with equal love and respect to influence us.
Changing times
Floyd Robinson, Nasinu
Viewing the news lately, it is obvious that we are living in a time of continuous changes.
Locally, out of the 79 new recruits in the Fijian Navy, six are female.
A new beginning it will be in the Fijian Naval Division and these females are part of history.
In terms of foreign relations, interestingly, the Russians have had a navy vessel visiting Papua New Guinea. Geo-politics in the Pacific appears to have shifted with super powers like Russia, China and USA having a greater interest in our region.
Walking past Kadavu House the other day, one noticed a rainbow colour flag flying high.
International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) it was.
Meanwhile, one looks forward to the much anticipated match between the Highlanders and Chiefs but this time around the host team will be the Highlanders.
Sitting at the bus stand waiting for my bus, I could not help but notice the generally disappointing behaviour of our primary and secondary school children.
Like it or not, changing times is a reality we have to live with.
Parliament
Shah Shariff, Savusavu
It is crystal clear now more than ever before how much qualified is our A-G.
Even the so-called lawyer from the Opposition doesn’t know the basic parliamentary rules and regulations....forget about the rest.
I just wonder if everyone was like our good A-G. Life in Parliament would be so easy and and productive.
School subjects
Ecelini Naivadra, Namadi
Not only should primary school mathematics be reviewed, as communicated to the public through televised Parliamentary debates.
But, all primary school textbooks should be checked that their level of vocabulary is at the level of understanding of the different age groups that use them.
Some examples seen seem to be close to tertiary standard.
And if standards are deteriorating in some subjects at both primary and secondary level, a contributing factor could be infrequent visits to schools by subject advisors because funds have run out.
Appropriate provision in the next National Budget to address such a situation should be considered, if necessary.
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