A mighty battle
The Fijian Drua faces the biggest of all acid tests in their first two years of Super Rugby when clashing with the Crusaders today.
Will the rain, mist and slippery ground conditions hold back our Drua from unleashing in this much anticipated quarter-finals?
I do not know but for now, do know, that they have the underdog status to their advantage.
There is not a better place to defeat the Crusaders than at home, right in front of their fans.
One can expect a mighty battle amongst the forwards and a lot of kicking from the Crusaders.
Meanwhile, back at home, some fans will start a mighty battle much earlier on Saturday but around the tanoa.
Floyd Robinson, Micronesia
Spears and forks
With a debutant at openside flanker and Joseva Tamani missing from the match day 23, I sense that many are already sharpening theirs knives, spears and forks.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Support for the Drua!
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will be playing away from home against the defending champions and the most successful team in the history of Super Rugby — the Crusaders.
The hosts are favourites to make it into the semis, but as Meli Derenalagi said faith, self-determination, hunger and fan support will guide the Drua this evening.
The odds are stacked against us and the chances of beating the Crusaders at their fortress are low, but nothing is impossible.
I have been passionate and ardent fan of the Crusaders since Super Rugby started in 1996.
The Blues won the title in 1996 and 1997, beating the Natal Sharks and Brumbies 45-21 and 23-7, respectively.
However, the Crusaders spoilt their hopes of a hat-trick by defeating them in the final 20-13 in 1998 and went on to become the first team to claim a hat-trick, winning in 1999 and 2000 after defeating the Highlanders and Brumbies 24-19 and 20-19, respectively.
The Drua has created history, and the boys are raring to beat the Crusaders at home this evening.
Both my teams are playing so may the best team win!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Deadly potholes
The enormous potholes in Namosau are dangerous for the public and annoying.
These lovo-sized potholes are located close to the bridge near the Govind Park entrance, and they have been a safety concern for a while.
Just to name a few places that are daily accessed from this busy road include Govind Park, Xavier College, Namosau Methodist School, Ba Sports Academy and the Ba Corrections Centre.
My heart hurts each time I have to use this road.
Please, Ba Town Council and Fiji Roads Authority, find a long-lasting remedy for these potholes as temporary fillings have so far failed to do any good.
DINESH KUMAR, Ba
My suggestions
Since the budget is being drafted, I would like to suggest that the taxpayers and the citizens of Fiji demand for a balanced budget.
We can’t be living on borrowed money in personal life, and that applies for the Government too.
The Government of the day must answer how the deficit would be turned to surplus.
It took President Bill Clinton two terms to pay off debt and when he left the White House, America had a surplus.
Why should we leave the debt for the next generation to pay off?
Some of the places that should be looked at for cost cutting are:
1) Fiji, a country with a population of less than one million, does not require three Deputy Prime Ministers. To appease minor parties of the coalition, there should have been an arrangement made to rotate Deputy PM’s position. Give each party the position for a year.
2) Do away with unnecessary embassies. We don’t need an embassy in Kuwait, Malaysia, Belgium, Singapore, Brazil, Ethiopia, and UAE.
3) Reduce the military budget by 50 per cent. Peacekeeping mission are costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
4) Replace VAT with sales tax where the end-user pays the tax instead of triple, quadruple taxation.
5) Viti must start a fair taxation study and implement it as soon as possible.
6) Every citizen should have an FNPF number and tax should be filed under that number annually. Expatriates employed in Viti also should be issued an FNPF number to pay tax.
7) All the members of Parliament including the executive branch should get a 50 per cent reduction in their salaries.
8) Travelling allowance for the PM and Cabinet members should be no more than $500 per trip.
9) The salaries and the allowances should be taxable.
10) Any government provided vehicle for personal use should be charged 65c per km.
Raman Velji, Portland, Oregon, USA
Visa-free travel
Some Fijian Drua fans have asked me if they can travel to New Zealand this weekend to watch the Crusaders vs Drua quarter-finals.
My answer was, ask the NZ Immigration directly and see if they will allow it.
This issue got me thinking and moved me to put my thoughts on paper, asking the million dollar question, “Can our Government seek a visa-free travel arrangement for Fijians to New Zealand, Australia, USA and other popular destinations?”
Citizens of these nations can travel and visit Fiji at any time without applying for a visa and this has been happening for a long time now.
Fijians are allowed to travel to some destinations without applying for a visa but don’t you think it is about time, the popular three mentioned nations allowed Fijians to visit without having to apply for a visitor’s visa?
The three embassies in Fiji are making a lot of money through the visa lodgment fees paid for visitors’ visa applications and sadly the majority of applications are not granted.
I know that it is a norm for Fiji Government leaders to be easily granted travel visas to the above three nations.
Can someone in leadership try opening this door with New Zealand, Australia and the USA?
In the meantime, let us all cheer toso Drua toso!
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Tacirua
Changing tune
I find it rather vague that some great authors suddenly are all about Coalition cuisine nowadays.
Unlike in the past decades they praised the former government.
Jioji O. Toronibau, Navetau
Submission
It’s good to hear from people about the 23/24 budget submissions.
May be it’s time to review minimum wage too where it could be $5 to $7 an hourly rate.
Navneet Ram (TD), Lautoka
Allegation
No Wise Muavono, not an obsession just statements of fact.
What’s your gripe?
Dan Urai, Lautoka
Fiji soccer
Rajesh Patel elected as president of Fiji FA for another four years.
That’s another four years of no progress for Fiji soccer.
SANJEET PRASAD, Labasa
Cold weather
This cold weather is definitely affecting the committed grog swipers.
Their skin drying up, tightening and cracks start to appear.
Anthony Sahai my boy, stay moisturised or thou shalt resemble a withered salato plant.
Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka
PS Education
IS the new PS for Education a former teacher in primary or secondary school who is familiar and has experienced the affairs of education?
AREKI DAWAI, Suva
Told you so
I will say it again.
Scrap FRA.
Bring back the Public Works Department.
I recall in one of our road survey works in the upper reaches of Namosi, I was told… “when we see the yellow Pajero coming, we know that our prayers have been answered”.
Proud to be one of them.
Joe Matatolu, Waila 3A
Flea market
The Shirley Park Flea market is getting smaller.
Have people found jobs?
Navneet Ram (TD), Lautoka
Donors’ list
According to the Elections Office, the list of donors to various political parties are now available and can be obtained for a fee of $20 from their Suva office.
If it can be bought, it is definitely public information so why not publish them in the local dailies for public consumption?
Ajai Kumar, Nadi
Feminism
I constantly teach my son what it means to be a feminist.
I tell him often feminism does not mean being feminine … it means gender equality and respect for all humans.
Jioji Masivesi Cakacaka, Carreras- Votualevu, Nadi
Unanswered calls
I refer to Ronnie Chang’s frustration printed in The Fiji Times (9/6) of his calls not being answered by the Nadi Hospital.
He is not the only one who is frustrated with the poor telephone service.
If you call any other government department or institution, the chances that they will be answered is very slim.
It is a culture here to play second fiddle to telephone calls.
Ajai Kumar, Nadi
Choice – An integral part of life
Choice is a complex and intriguing phenomenon
Choice symbolises freedom and consequences
Decision based on choice is an integral part of life
Sacrifice is a choice
Which adds value to other’s life
Responsibility is a choice
Which determines consequences
Commitment is a choice
Which defines actions
Reaction is a choice
Which embraces to defend without much thought
Response is a choice
Which displays thought with calmness
Thinking is a choice
Which reveals action(s)
Choice is an experience
Which teaches lesson(s) in life
Integrity is a choice
Which helps to move in life with confidence
Relationship is a choice
Which decides success and failure
Like words we articulate impact our personalities
Choices we make shape our lives
Our journey of life is a choice
This determines the tide in the affairs of a person
The power of choice triggers
Transformation in our lives for good or for worse
Choices are not fixed, rigid and inflexible
Choices can be revisited, revised and reconsidered
Life is filled with Choices
When Choices seem difficult to make
Stop and put on the brake
Ask for advice and look for a guide
Someone with wisdom to provide
Sometimes we are trapped by the choices in front of us
Our stress builds up and pressure mounts
To get over this impossible life-changing choice
Bring balance of mind and rationality.
Bhagwanji Bhindi, Laucala Beach Estate, Nasinu
No soccer development
Fijian U20 head coach Robert Mimms had assured they were looking forward to their first game against Slovakia in the FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina where his team intended to score points first and take things from there.
Instead, the national team was bundled out in pool play conceding 16 goals and scoring none.
In the meantime, debutant Israel defeated five time champions Brazil 3-2 in a quarter final while six time champions and host Argentina were humbled by Nigeria in the round of 16.
I believe nothing matters for Fiji FA headed by president Rajesh Patel and the CEO, Mohammed Yusuf.
I believe the Fiji FA will receive approximately $F4.4million per year for the next four year cycle from 2023-2026 as part of the FIFA forward development program.
Commented Rajesh Patel: “We already have operational costs as we are hiring development officers and coaches as well.”
Where are the results on the world stage of the Bula Boys, Kula Girls, Futsal and U20 national teams Mr Patel?
Fiji has slipped to 168th place in the latest FIFA ranking.
After all the lacklustre performance by our national teams, the focus will straight away shift towards the Digicel Fiji FACT where matches will see goals galore and Fiji FA officials ready to collect more revenue while telling the soccer public that a very high standard of football will be witnessed from the eight participating teams.
The big dollars will keep pouring in but the top hierarchy who have been at the helm of Fiji FA for donkeys years will not let go of power or pass the baton to a new team with new ideas.
Fiji FA officials at their best results.
Money talks, what say, Sydney soccer referee Jan Nissar, the biggest grog dopey in my view?
Raymond Singh, Marine Drive, Lautoka
Our world, our ocean!
The editor-in-chief summed up the significance of the ocean with a robust editorial titled ‘Our world, our ocean’ (FT: 09/06) as this year’s World Oceans Day was celebrated.
These lines added depth: “The ocean is the foundation of life. It supplies the air we breathe and food we eat. It regulates our climate and weather. The ocean is our planet’s greatest reservoir of biodiversity. Its resources sustain communities, prosperity and human health around the world.”
Fred Wesley warned that human-induced climate change was heating our planet, disrupting weather patterns and ocean currents, and altering marine ecosystems and species living there.
He added marine bio-diversity was under attack from overfishing, over-exploitation and ocean acidification.
Wesley elaborated on coastal pollution and littering.
He shed light on the important roles we could play to protect our environment, and especially the seas around us.
We action or it will be too late to save our ocean and the marine species which depend on the ocean for survival.
Ocean survival is on our hands.
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
World Oceans Day
World Ocean Day, observed every year on June 8, is a significant occasion that raises awareness of the importance of the ocean and the necessity of its protection.
This event takes on even more significance in 2023 as a result of the planet’s increasing environmental problems.
The goals were to increase understanding and encourage action to protect the health of the oceans.
The theme of the 2023 UN World Oceans Day is “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing.”
The urgent need for international action to address major problems affecting the ocean, like pollution, overfishing, habitat destruction, and climate change, was emphasised.
Governments, organisations, and individuals must work together at the event to find sustainable solutions.
World Ocean Day acts as a global call to action, urging people and groups to do something to protect and improve the health of the oceans.
It emphasises the necessity of global collaboration, legislative changes, and personal commitments to safeguard this priceless resource.
It is a potent reminder of our shared obligation to protect the ocean for a planet that is sustainable and thriving.
DINESH KUMAR, Ba
Day for the ocean
With World Environment Day and World Ocean Day this week (05/06 and 08/06), many including all inhabitants of our planet Earth are raising their voices #For Nature & #For Ocean.
As we build back better during these difficult times, let’s put nature and ocean at the heart of our decision-making and call for a healthier, more sustainable planet that works for everyone, everywhere all the time.
Jadon Eroni Masivesi, QVS, Nukuvuto
Hazardous seawall
The portion of Stinson Parade next to the estuary of the Nabukalou Creek once had benches where people could sit and enjoy the harbour view and ships berthed at the King’s Wharf.
It was the best spot in the city during the humid summer weather condition under the beautiful shady rain trees that was also frequent by the cruise ship passengers where most of the temporary handicraft vendors operated from.
Sitting under the trees you can get the best sunset view in the city and are also entertained by the casual fishermen casting their fishing lines from the seawall.
Now the once famous site is in omnishambles as the seawall is in a debilitated state due to no maintenance which is very evident.
The approximately 100 metres of seawall has a lot of concrete decay and chunks from the breakwater structure is falling away and slightly declining towards the water’s edge leaving a huge gap in-between.
The hazardous gap is filled with assorted rubbish including plastic bags and empty bottles.
I believe the adverse global climate has accelerated the deterioration of the seawall and the soil erosion and if no corrective action will be taken now, it may result in the collapse of the entire length of the protective structure.
In the meantime people still visit the spot and during the lunch break some are seen sitting on the edge of the risky seawall despite the trench like division that has separated the seawall from the embankment.
Satish Nakched, Suva
Litter and pollution
THINGS are getting out of hand really fast.
Garbage and litter strewn carelessly.
That’s not at all smart.
Its on the roads, in the drains, on the beach, even out at sea.
Up on the hills, down the plains.
Who is to blame for all we see?
We don’t have to look far, to know their names.
Oilei!
Just look in the mirror ga, for who to blame!
Edward Blakelock, Pacific Harbour
Political reactions
A novice politician tells a veteran and seasoned politician to “shut up”.
Such is the behaviour of some of our politicians these days.
I had written in this column before that those who wish to become politicians and public servants need to develop a thick skin and should respond to people and not react.
I also said that once a person becomes a public figure, they lose much of their private life, like it or not.
They have been voted in to serve them and not to be barked at.
Sadhguru interprets “reaction” and “response” as follows: “Reaction is based on one’s past memories and conclusions. Response is a conscious process in the present moment. Learn to respond and not react”.
So politicians humble yourselves and respond to issues and comments, even if the same stuff is hurled at you a hundred times by the same person/s.
Ajai Kumar, Nadi
Response and reaction
Minister urges council to step up, they have become lazy…system is corrupt.
This is the headline of an article printed in The Sunday Times, page 3.
In this article Professor Biman Prasad alleged that the “system is corrupt, …. Council have become lazy…..”
With a stroke of the pen, Prof Prasad has made allegations that cannot go unchallenged as it is pointing a finger squarely at special administrators and underlines the need to have municipal elections right away.
Prof Prasad, if you have evidence of corruption in a council, please report it to FICAC rather than making political football of municipal councils, so to speak.
I am Luke Mataiciwa, special administrator, chair for Tavua Town Council and Rakiraki Town Council.
I was appointed in 2020, of course, based on merit considering my qualification and professional experience: BA in Economics (Hons.) and MA in Public Administration and more than 15 years work experience in the UN Regional Office, Suva and born/bred in Tavua.
For your information, upon joining, I noted that Tavua and Rakiraki Town councils did not have commercial properties but solely dependent on rates and fees as main source of revenue.
Obviously, the past elected councillors failed to acquire commercial properties in some councils who are now struggling and facing financial constraints.
For your information, my achievements so far are as follows: I formulated a project document and approached The High Commission of India to donate two Mahindra twin cab vehicles which was generously approved.
In April this year, Tavua and Rakiraki Town councils took delivery of a Mahindra twin cab worth $65,000 each.
Under my guidance, the Tavua Town Council is receiving a grant of $65,000 from a donor to upgrade the Children’s Park in Tavua,
$100,000 from a UN agency to refurbish Tavua market, $170,000 for a new compactor truck which is under procurement and the
council will take delivery of it, latest by October this year, so on and so forth.
For information purposes, during the recent public consultation on municipal elections, I made oral and written submissions strongly in support of municipal elections.
Lastly, as a matter of protocol and courtesy, please respect that there is a Minister for Local Government.
I believe, the minister has engaged a taskforce to review the existing systems and processes for municipal election including legislation reforms to ensure free, fair and sustainable town councils’ election in future.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are mine and do not reflect in any way the views of the Tavua Town Council and Rakiraki Town councils.
LUKE MATAICIWA, Special administrator, chair TTC/RTC
Behind the prison walls
Siteri Sauvakacolo never fails readers with her stories via the People column.
I look forward to the pieces that she compiles.
She penned an interesting and touching piece on Samuela Civo (FT: 08/06) who for 20 odd years saw the prison as his safety net and home after being convicted as a 14-year-old in 1977.
Civo, who escaped twice from the Naboro Maximum Prison, and was slapped prison sentences for a variety of offences, is a changed man and an ordained pastor at the Lautoka Full Gospel Tabernacle Church.
He is a strong advocate of the Fiji Corrections Service’s Yellow Ribbon Program.
Civo explained the commitment and dedication it took to change his life.
He described how his upbringing resulted in problems for him.
Civo also described the transformation that he went through — such motivation for those who are planning to change themselves!
Thank you Siteri and The Fiji Times for sharing the story of Sivo who has become God’s messenger!
Vinaka vakalevu Sivo!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Role to play
This week on June 5, we celebrated World Environment Day and on June 8 as the World Oceans Day.
Indeed both these days are significant celebrations as they remind us of the intrinsic nature of our relationship with Earth.
Earth sustains us with food, water, medicine, shelter, recreation and much more.
As an island nation, we are surrounded by the ocean.
With vast oceans surrounding many Pacific countries, there lies a big responsibility for these countries, including Fiji.
While the commitment is enormous, sustaining and effectively managing the sea requires immense effort.
The ever-increasing challenges such as habitat loss and degradation, over exploitation, invasive species, pollution, loss of traditional knowledge, practice and belief systems, and human-forced climate change, all require greater attention from our communities.
The message about climate change mitigation, plastic pollution, poor waste management and biodiversity loss has been repeated so often, with the hype usually being created around the international day of such celebrations, conferences such as the COP (Conference of the Parties) or other national, regional or international meetings.
However, at the local level, there appears to be either denial or an unwavering attitude to change bad habits or accept environmental responsibility.
I am appalled that we behave like a third-world country managing waste dumping along the roadside and coasts or piling it near our driveways.
Some years back, Fiji was championing green growth.
Shockingly, we have yet to modernise Fiji to minimise waste or prevent pollution.
For example, We have technology such as QR codes and smartphones, yet we issue paper tickets in movies.
One must walk around the city or urban centres to see bank receipts from ATMS, empty beverage bottles, receipts, plastics, and so much more.
The more we use paper, the more trees are cut down.
Trees are like the Earth’s lungs.
They suck in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and purify the air for us to breathe.
They stop soil erosion, help sequester atmospheric carbon, and help in the hydrological cycle.
Plastic pollution is the worst.
Plastics always end up either in the ocean or at our dump sites.
Even if the plastics are reusable, we must try to eliminate or reduce them from everyday use since even the slightest accidental entry of plastics into the ocean has a catastrophic impact on marine species.
Our people must know that plastics adversely affect aquatic life, especially the fish and turtles that ingest them.
While the same ingested plastics then, through the food web, can also enter humans, many marine organisms’ ability to survive plastics and
maintain a healthy, flourishing and well-functioning ecosystem is challenging.
Microplastics are now evident in many food sources we consume from the sea.
Plastics that are not biodegradable can remain in the environment for hundreds of years.
Ordinary Fijians must change their attitude towards ‘prakriti’ (in Hindi) or mother nature; otherwise, we won’t be spared.
Nature knows its way to take it back from us.
If we remain defiant and do not change our habits and become more respectful to our planet, there will be a time we will have a land bereft of nothing good for humans.
Being obedient to nature also means protecting other wildlife, sustainable consumption, maintaining cleanliness and proper disposal of wastes and working towards preserving the diversity of life around us.
Remember, there are thousands of people whose livelihood is dependent directly on a clean, pristine, beautiful and green Fiji that boasts
incredible marine flora and fauna and beautiful shores of golden sand and sunshine.
Without this, we have no tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, exports etc.
Ask yourself if you are one of those that extend their hands out from a travelling car to throw your rubbish out of the window, or does anyone in your family dump garbage (including green waste) by the roadside, or does your workplace observe environmentally friendly habits?
Everyone has a role to play.
We must change our habits.
Will you?
RAHUL A CHAND, Suva
Putting adults to shame
I was saddened to read that students had to collect rubbish left by adults.
Children of International School Suva and Veiuto Primary School organised a clean-up around My Suva Picnic Park as part of World Environment Day and World Oceans Day celebration.
The children, under the supervision of their teachers, managed to collect over 10 trash bags filled with plastic, household waste and glass which littered the area and found their way along the mangroves too.
It is really sad that kids are picking up rubbish left by us adults.
Hence, there is a need for more awareness and education.
As adults, we need to be role models because our behaviour and actions filter down to our children.
It is vital to inculcate habits, such as care for the environment, within ourselves.
A concerted effort is needed!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Feminists agenda
I don’t mean to be rude to women if I say that I am tired of hearing feminists raising the issue of women representation in society.
Just recently the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Lynda Tabuya voiced her concern on the misrepresentation of women in Parliament and as well as in the Great Council of Chiefs to which the Attorney-General responded saying that it is not about women but about birth rights and traditions.
Again, Barbara Malimali, in The Fiji Times of 7/06 raised the issue about the disparity in the representation of women in important institutions such as the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), judiciary and the various arms of government.
I believe women’s representation in society is a non-issue that some feminists are trying to make it an issue.
For example: 1. Women in Parliament. This will depend on the choice of the voters. There were many women candidates but the voters chose those they wanted to vote for.
2. Women in the GCC. This will depend on birth rights and title holders and not just a mere choice of who may want to represent especially from the feminist agenda.
3. Women in Government and private sector. This will depend on merit and qualification and not just about women’s representation. In summation, I believe there are many problems facing our women in Fiji today because feminists are creating issues from non-issues and women representation is just one of the many.
Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane, Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Keeping them in mind
USP senior economics lecturer Dr Neelesh Gounder is right to remind us to keep the poor in mind when putting policies in place (FT 8/6).
Politicians are notorious for putting the poor at the back of their mind.
That’s useless for the poor.
The poor should be front and centre of the minds of politicians.
Only then can they make a difference to the lives of the poor.
Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Down memory lane
I thank The Fiji Times for the write up from the pages of CWMH history dating back to 1978.
The Fiji Times edition of May 25, 1978 revealed the case of top senior highly qualified CWMH consultant surgeon Dr Deo Dutt Sharma.
Through much work-related frustrations, he had no option but to resign.
Could such situation be relevant in this modern day and age, some 50 odd years later?
I hear specialists from CWMH are also “contracted” to offer their professional medical services at a major private hospital in the Capital City.
How fortunate for those who can afford better health care in cleaner more modern environments.
Capital City Suva needs to have a more modern and state-of-the-art hospital to replace the century old CWMH in various certain states of decay, in some departments.
This could be done progressively in stages.
Money talks, they say.
The rich are extended priorities in health care.
Waiting lists in our hospitals get longer, for the poorer, I hear.
I will duly stand corrected, if I am held be incorrect.
Proof, most times, is almost elusive.
My spouse had a “scare” at about midnight, Monday, April 17, 2023.
She was hospitalised.
Five long weeks after her first review, we await a “date and appointment” for an Echo in Aspen Lautoka Hospital.
There is a need for me to highlight this example.
How many other patients face the same “delays” in professional health care delivery following a “scare?”
Am I only touching the tip of a proverbial “Fiji medical ice-berg?”
This is not to be taken as a complaint.
It is merely a statement of fact of how the less fortunate, i.e. retirees with no fixed income, are made to encounter.
I elect to remain a voice for the silent majority, with respect.
I have spent much time praying real hard before “putting pen to paper” on this subject matter.
This is no easy task for me as I had unpleasant experiences in the Nadi Hospital women’s medical ward during my spouse’s admission.
Not one ward duty doctor there took a minute to explain her prognosis, in spite of my five requests one day.
This was just not right; and most unethical, unprofessional.
The truth hurts, most times, when health care is not at its best.
I worry.
We are truly fortunate.
We managed Echo procedure at CWMH on Tuesday morning, June 6, 2023.
Aspen Lautoka Hospital is yet to give us an appointment for an Echo procedure — almost two long months after initial admission in Nadi Hospital.
Such delays need to exposed.
The silent majority often do not have a voice.
It is most timely.
I must sincerely thank the Australian Medical Assistance Team Programme (AUSMET) and “Between The Flag” initiative to assist in the timely delivery of health care where it is deemed necessary.
In my view, respectfully, the delays experienced, or should I say, procrastination in timely medical service delivery, needs to be professionally addressed.
Thank goodness it is happening, finally.
RONNIE CHANG, Martintar, Nadi
The Drua mania
I must commend Professor Steven Ratuva for the insight into the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side with his powerful article titled “The Drua mania” (FT 07/06).
I agree with the learned professor that the Drua is synonymous with the sporting pride of Fiji as a nation.
The quarter-final achievement was no joke and came with a lot of passion, commitment, dedication, sweat and tears.
While a lot of credit goes to head coach Mick Byrne, one must not forget the efforts of the trainer and strength and conditioning coach Naca Cawanibuka.
Professor Ratuva explained clearly what the drua represented.
He alluded that the Drua rugby spirit was about strength, adventure and innovation which was about the history of the drua which centred on the story of power, resilience, scientific innovation, trans-oceanic conquest, discovery, endless horizon, speed and people to people connections.
Professor Ratuva touched on positive aspects created by the success of the Drua.
Really Sir, a delightful piece!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
