Letters To The Editor 30th April 2018

Damodar City

Dewan Chand,

Suva

It is heartening to learn that the Da­modar Group of Companies has decided to construct a Damodar City in Labasa.

It is a historical development of a mas­sive magnitude, which is bound to cata­pult Labasa into a modern industrial town.

Initially it will provide instant work for thousands of construction workers.

Subsequently it will provide employ­ment in a variety of economic activities, which will spring up in and around Da­modar City.

I see this as a decisive step that will arrest the outflow of people of Labasa into Viti Levu and outwardly bound for Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

Maybe not completely, but it will be a great reason for the youth of Labasa to stay back and serve there.

The faith of the Damodar Group of Companies to invest $40 million in the economy of Labasa is a clear reflection of its faith in the policies of the FijiFirst Government and its land reform poli­cies, which have provided greater sense of security for investment in our beloved country.

The draconian policies of the earlier governments to use land as a political tool by not renewing the land leases for sugarcane farmers led to a massive mi­gration of people from Labasa into Suva, thus the springing up of squatter settle­ments in the Suva-Nausori corridor.

Many of these uprooted people never returned to Labasa for very obvious reasons. Fears of forcible removal or Gestapo-type takeovers are still lingering in many minds.

Those who have moved overseas and established new homes in foreign lands still want to come back.

The current Government’s dual citizen­ship policies has done much to entice some to return.

But many still fear the trauma of the af­termath of the coups.

Labasa is a very beautiful place and the hospitality of the Labasa people has giv­en it the name Friendly North.

And believe you me that Labasa is a very friendly place. Labasa town on the banks of Labasa River is an equally invit­ing place.

There has been much physical growth in the town in recent years.

The improvement of transinsular roads from Savusavu to Labasa and Labasa to Bua has done much for the mobility of people and goods.

Modern ferry services have done much to encourage this mobility.

Waiqele Airport needs to be upgraded and the cost of travelling reduced sub­stantially to encourage more people to travel.

At the moment the travellers are very choosy!

The natural geographic beauty of La­basa is excellent! The towering Three Sisters Mountains and the surrounding ranges provide an idyllic setting. The fer­tile plains formed by the Qawa River, La­basa River and Wailevu River have been the home of thousands of lush green sug­arcane farms.

Labasa Sugar Mill majestically sits on the banks of the Qawa River. The sugar mill is the centre of a hive of activities. The newly-constructed Damodar City will not be very far from here.

My hearty congratulations to the peo­ple of Labasa for this landmark develop­ment.

And thanks to the Damodar Group of Companies for the confidence in Labasa.

Racism

Amenatave Yaconisau,

Delainavesi

I refer to your article titled “Tabuya: What Racism means” (FS 28/4) .

Her simple examples of dinner table and the contents of lunch box racism are examples of personal racism.

What is more important is institution­alised racism that marginalises women from decision making.

This is outrageous!

Soccer 'crowds'

• Shariff Shah,

Savusavu

I am pleading with both daily newspa­per photographers to please take good enough photos of the teams before the game starts.

It’s OK at the moment, but there is no crowd in the background/pavilion.

It’s dull. Is it the main pavilion in the background?

If it is then I would love to invite our good president and CEO to come over to any bazaar penalty shootout tournament in the villages ... you will find bigger crowds there. Please bring Gamel too.

Savusavu used to have bumper crowds as well. Now there’s no club soccer so people watch EPL or drink and party.

I hope it’s not the same case elsewhere.

Loud music

Hassan Ali,

Lautoka

Playing loud music in public transport is still prevalent and very disturbing.

Often drivers are completely oblivious of the volume.

Mostly the chosen item is not the choice of the passengers.

I don't think we should be forced to lis­ten to something we may not like and often I feel the music is wild with the singers having a hoarse, unnatural unac­ceptable voice.

This mars one's enjoyment and appre­ciation of the beauty of the outside view of the natural environment.

People should be free to travel in peace and not be forced to listen to something shoved down their throats.

This is a compromise on our freedom.

I would like to strongly suggest that LTA issue a directive to all bus operators to re­move all musical devices for the comfort of the passengers.

People pay fares to enjoy the ride, not the unwanted music.

Since everyone carries a cell phone these days, they can play the music of their choice using their headsets so as not to disturb others.

I sincerely hope that LTA will take ac­tion and for the Minister of Transport to look into the problem and resolve it.

Defaulters

Tukai Lagonilakeba

Namaka, Nadi

The Fiji Sun on Saturday April 28, listed a paid advert by the FRCS with a total 876 Fijian Vat defaulters individuals, or­ganisations and registered companies involved.

This is not right and very disappointing indeed to note, how on earth we Fijians can demand better government services if we are unable to return those taxes to Fiji Revenue Customs Services in what is rightly theirs and are worth millions of dollars.

Surely it is always convenient for gov­ernment critics and Fijians to whinge and put the blame on our Government,

But we forget, who the real culprits are and I am convinced it is also fair on the ordinary long forgotten Fijians who are still suffering because of the many who intentionally do not pay their dues in or­der to better government service deliver­ies. Patriotic Fijians should come out in numbers and use the toll free numbers provided by FRCS to report on these Fiji­ans and their whereabouts.

I wish to congratulate the CEO FRCS Visvanath Das and thank him for the ex­posure of these tax defaulters but hope it does not infringe or invade on their indi­vidual personal privacies.

I have started by contacting my four friends listed and based here in Nadi to encourage them to visit the FRCS office at Namaka to regularise their status in doing the right thing.

They were indeed surprised to see their company and names as part of the line-up.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj