Natakea road
Mr Prime Minister sir. On Savusavu’s Natakea, Vucivuci Rd are many farmers of yaqona and root crops who bring in supplies to market daily. In particular, is a commercial iTaukei guava farmer who has spent years establishing his unique farm and building a name and a reputation for himself. This successful farmer supplies his professionally-grown guavas to resorts, businesses and residents in Savusavu and even sends stocks to the mainland. Sir, with all the talk about MSMEs and the percentage of income that they bring in, and the support going out for them, I have to say that the infrastructure as with the case of Natakea Rd does not support outstanding MSMEs such as our guava producer. Sir, the Natakea Rd condition is appalling and has been that way for far, far, too long. Could you please put its repair and maintenance at the top of your list of priorities, sir, because those farmers have waited long enough to the point that no driver wants to take his vehicle up that road any longer. In fact, the experience of travelling along the Natakea Rd, is becoming like the character of donkey in the movie Shrek, where he keeps poking his head out of his ride and querying, “Are we there yet?” And the reply comes back over and over to the point that it becomes almost excruciating, “No donkey!” Far far away is far far away!” Noleen Billings, Savusavu
Religious festival
Refer to Graphic News FT 16/01 to the world’s largest religious festival Maha Kumbh Mela. More than 400 million Hindu devotees have begun visiting Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, India for the holy bath at the confluence of River Ganges , Yamuna and Saraswati. River Saraswati is not mythical since Indian Geologists and NASA have mapped that Saraswati flowed more than 4000 years ago. River Saraswati’s demise began when Sutlej diverted to join present day River Beas. (Google) For the Maha Kumbh Mela, it is noteworthy to remember that there is no cast, creed, religion or race to debar devotees from participating. Even Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple and his wife, Kamala also took a bath standing beside other devotees. Rakesh Chand Sharma, Nadi
Road patches
One thing that I still cannot understand is why all the potholes in a particular place are not filled up. The people who are filling the potholes would bath in seven potholes from 10 potholes in the same area. This is something the road engineer should look into as I have witnessed this in many roads around Lautoka. Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
Chinese language
Piloting the inclusion of the Chinese language (FT16/1) will improve communications in Fiji’s diverse society. Having multiracial and multicultural schools will strengthen this program further. I believe there should be no language barrier when we understand each other with the Fijian local language. Tahir Ali, Hamilton, New Zealand
Honesty and respect
Yesterday morning as I was waiting to catch the bus to my work place, I noticed something very special worth sharing. A bus parked at the bus stand without a bus driver or anyone supervising and passengers getting into the bus tapping their cards in the absence of the driver. When the bus driver returned he looked at the passengers in the bus, took his seat and drove off. I can tell he had trusted the passengers and assumed that they have tapped their cards and indeed his assumption was right. Two things I want to highlight from what I noticed, first the passengers’ integrity and honesty to do what they have to do without being supervised and secondly the trust that the driver has for the passengers. I truly believe that if we Fijians are honest in what we do and mutually trust and respect one another at every level of our society, I am certain that Fiji would be a better place for everyone and we can again claim that Fiji is the way the world should be. Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane, Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Lynda’s case
In his letter on all the “good work” Lynda Tabuya did as a minister in the Rabuka Coalition Government, Narayan Reddy (FT 16/1) forgot to mention the hefty pay rise and extra perks she got for our parliamentarians. That’s a major omission! Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
ODPP saga
Non-stop problems one after the other and PM Rabuka has got a lot on his plate to deal with, wow what a mess. And so is incoming reinstated DPP Pryde who will resume next week but he has got competition internally within the office. Never ending drama. Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Tourism
When can we expect to hear how those tourists came to be poisoned in Nadi? Or is it a ‘mystery’ authorities hope will go away. When can we expect to get the results of the investigation into why that aircraft went off the runway in the Yasawas? Was it pilot error? When will Fiji get serious about the pros and cons of mass tourism? Christopher Griffin, Perth, Australia
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