Development plan

THE National Development Plan that was just released has numerous KPIs targeted specifically at benefiting the iTaukei. I believe there is not a single KPI in there that benefits non-iTaukei citizens only. How is the National Development Plan inclusive of all the citizens of the country when there are government policies that don’t treat everyone equally? Government policies should be based on the situations of citizens rather than who their ancestors are. For example, policies that favour those under a certain income threshold or policies that benefit those who do not own a residential property yet, those types of policies are good from an equity perspective and help raise the quality of living for those at the bottom. However, to generalise that all iTaukei are worse off than other citizens and need more policies to benefit them only is rather biased. Government needs to tread carefully or else the feeling of being second-class citizens in the country you are born in will drive them all to migrate. KIRAN KHATRI, Samabula, Suva

Speight pardoned

THE name George Speight was synonymous with those who witnessed the 2000 civilian coup. Speight, who was a businessman at that point in time, made headlines and gained notoriety as the self-proclaimed leader of the group that held government ministers hostage in the Parliament complex. The dark events, that followed in the Capital City and other parts of Fiji, are hard to describe as they tore the foundation on which a multi-racial Fiji was built. Indo-Fijians mostly suffered more because of looting and damage to their properties. Isa, those were the days. I was a Year 13 student at Labasa College, and I vividly remember watching Speight live on TV. He looked smart and commanding as well as scary, but he had fluent English. I did not know back then who he was until I did a bit more research on him when I joined the Fiji College of Advanced Education as a trainee teacher. In 2002, when I was in my graduating year, Speight was convicted of treason for leading the coup. He had been imprisoned for 24 years, one month and 23 days both on Nukulau Island and at the Naboro Correction Facility. I believe Speight has served his time in prison and deserves a second chance like Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, Timoci Silatolu and Josefa Nata who were granted Presidential Pardon by the Mercy Commission. Let’s accept Speight with a forgiving heart. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAMNadawa, Nasinu

Area names

CAN the relevant city councils or stakeholder install area name signage such as Raiwasa, Raiwaqa and Raiwai etc. This will assist residents, tourists, visitors and drivers identify the area conveniently.  In addition, add value to the relevant municipality by providing a better image of the town or city.  ASISH VINAY PRASAD, Raiwasa, Suva

Love all

LOVE is worth fighting for! (Figuratively speaking). COLIN DEOKI, Australia

Cone record

IS there any record by the Fiji Roads Authority on the amount of cones and the cost at which they purchased them for so far? Must be huge! PITA SOROAQALI, Rakiraki

 Pine scheme

I AM commenting on Mareko Vuli’s article on the above topic in last Friday’s paper. There are few things we have to understand regarding pine planting. The so-called maximum rotation age of pine is about 22-25 years, ready for harvesting. If left to grow, the mean annual increment (MAI) is reduced and the pine tree could have heart rot and die-backs. Also, once the trees are too old, they produce carbon dioxide, therefore, it is better to harvest then instead of letting it grow. The new growth will take in more carbon dioxide – new planting is needed. Fiji Pine is FSC certified and paying a better price compared with some companies on Vanua Levu that are paying only $10 per tree. MAIKA TABUKOVU, (PhD Scholar – Forestry Science) FNU

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