Must read
Ecelini Naivadra, Namadi
A World of Change - my life in the global women's rights movement by Anne S Walker, is a must-read for all those who remember Anne as the tall blonde Australian young woman who together with her compatriot, Ruth Lechte, established the Young Women's Christian Association in Fiji in 1962.
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Through Anne and Ruth, the Fiji YWCA established the first multiracial kindergarten, the first multiracial Netball (then known as Basketball) Association and the first multiracial Women's Hockey Association in Suva in the 1960s.
Of interest in the book is the position taken by a group of local women members of the YWCA at a 1965 local consultation on independence by Eireen White, Parliamentary Under Secretary of the Colonial Office.
The book records that all “stated that they wanted an independent Fiji, one where everyone could vote for the candidate of their choice and not necessarily from their own ethnic group”.
Ruth Lechte, Anne Walker and Amelia Rokotuivuna, all YWCA leaders then, were also instrumental in organising local demonstrations against the resumption of nuclear testing in Tahiti in 1965.
After 11 years working with women and youth groups in Fiji, Anne went on to further her studies in the United States, obtained a Doctorate and later headed the International Women's Tribune Centre in New York, a vital clearing house of information for women advocates throughout the world.
The USP Book Centre and MHCC have been requested to sell the book, published by Arcadia, 2018.
Floating Maritime Hospital
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
The commissioning of the $8 million Multi-Purpose Landing Craft Vessel Veivueti is a milestone achievement for all our remote maritime islands throughout Fiji.
Government must be applauded for its inclusive vision for providing such unique medical services to our grandmothers and grandfathers, mothers, aunts, uncles and children who have mostly missed this very important medical service because of their remoteness.
This is in the spirit of our 2013 Constitution.
Apart from being a moving hospital it can double up as a relief response vessel during and after the cyclones in carting cargo and water to the affected islands, especially the Lau Group, Lomaiviti, Kadavu, Vatulele, Beqa and the Yasawa Group.
It will greatly benefit islands such as Kioa, Rabi, Rotuma and Taveuni.
Specialised medical surgeons will now be able to visit these most beautiful islands and provide medical treatment for our families out there.
I found NFP leader Biman Prasad’s negative attack in the other newspaper relevant to the Veivueti launch uncalled for and irresponsible.
Veivueti serves a very important purpose for those in the outer islands and not for someone like Biman, who lived all his life on Viti Levu where all is at his convenience.
He has never experienced what we from these islands have to make do with - the very little we have - including our forefathers and children who have had to face the reality of death because of the lack of advanced medical facilities.
Where was the NFP hiding all these years? This questions also goes for former governments, including that of Ratu Mara, Sitiveni Rabuka, Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase.
This Government has seen it fit to provide the Veivueti for these maritime Fijians through a political will to make it happen for these long forgotten, unfortunate Fijians. I would say dirty and discriminating politics of the past may have blinded them from doing the right thing by us Fijians.
No Fijian will be left behind by this FijiFirst Government.
Vinaka vakalevu.
Brilliant writing
Steven Singh, Sydney, Australia
I look forward to reading your newspaper every day, particularly the letters to the editor. My sanity and faith is restored by your regular contributors such asTimoci Gaunavinaka, Amenatave Yacconisau, Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa and Tukai Lagonilakeba who write brilliant pieces and dissect almost all aspects of politics. No nonsense writing and straight as an arrow stuff.
Sometimes I say to myself, geez that’s what I was thinking, but I am not that knowledgeable to put it on paper and make it look inspirational.
Thank you gentlemen and keep it coming.
Fish ban
Wise Muavono, Lautoka
Now that the ban on Kawakawa and Donu has been officially implemented, my friend Cameron will be looking for other alternative for his Sunday lunch. I suggest he valolo the qitawa.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj
