Moving picture indeed

Your picture in Wednesday’s paper (FT 23/08, p7) of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sakeo Ganivatu saluting the late Special Constable Bimal So’s wife is moving indeed. The grief stricken widow and the late special constable’s colleague standing beside her, obviously shaken and emotional being comforted by the watchful gaze of the Assistant Commissioner and the uniformed offices in the background, is a picture of solidarity in the face of grief and sorrow. We may have differences in our beloved nation, but what binds and holds us together is our humanity in the face of adversity. The picture is unique in that it captures the raw emotion of our people. May the Special Constable Bimal So rest in eternal peace and may his family be comforted in memories of him and the future of a united Fiji. Sailosi Naewe Naduru Rd, Nausori

Verbal gymnastics

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says under the FijiFirst government people were allowed to protest (FT 29/8). No, they weren’t. It’s a delusional claim. People were not only denied their democratic right to protest but critics were also hounded and politically persecuted. No amount of verbal gymnastics by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum can hide that fact. He is only making a fool of himself by making the claim. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia

Sexual harassment

To address sexual harassment in the workplace, it should be mandatory for all employers to conduct meaningful training for employees and employers just like our OHS Workplace Policy. This training should be conducted by a third party who has 30 plus years of experience in women and girls’ issues and not the relevant ministry. Recent studies show that almost 50 per cent of women have experienced sexual harassment in their workplace, and that number is increasing every year. To the victims remember it’s not your fault or to be blamed if you are being sexually harassed in your workplace by those in power or higher authority. End sexual harassment in workplace. Jioji M Cakacaka Carreras, Votualevu, Nadi

Nadi Hospital

For and on behalf of all who use Nadi Hospital, I make my comments to the Honourable Minister for Health and Medical Services. My earlier official letters to the PS H&MS did not receive any attention, among several matters raised. During my recent visits on Monday and Tuesday, August 28 and 29, I found again the A&E sections leading to the operating theatres are very poorly lit; no air-conditioning; no electric fan to assist with proper ventilation. While undergoing cataract procedure by the very professional care of Suva-based Pacific Eye Institute team, I kind of “sensed” there were power fluctuations when senior Opthalamologist, Dr Vara worked on my right eye. To hear the words, “No burn; No burn” was most unsettling. I was given to understand by fellow patients, there was power outage in the theatre later that afternoon. Something needs to be done to professionally address the critical supply of consistent power in operating theatres. Besides, messages through the public address systems for GOPD were “blurted” out annoying and disturbingly from a speaker right outside door to the operating theatre. Peace and quiet must reign in this critical area in any hospital. This is absolutely unacceptable, and senseless, in my opinion. I will stand corrected, otherwise. This speaker must be isolated with immediate effect. A&E airconditioning needs urgent restoration. Will the Hon Minister for H&MS please investigate and prove me wrong? I will remain a voice for Nadi’s silent majority, with utmost respect and care, as a “retired kai Nadi”. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi

Top marks

I’ve gathered that he is by far perhaps the most engrossed and preoccupied Minister of the Coalition Government; yes folks, and he is none other than our very own Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, honourable Filimoni Vosarogo! I wonder if he ever rests and recuperates and if it ever takes its toll on his body! Almost in the absence of every full Cabinet minister or line minister, his name is always mentioned and announced as the acting minister. In the absence of the Labour and Employment Minister, Mr Vosarogo filled in; in the absence of the Defence Minister, again he filled in, in the absence of the Health Minister, he yet again filled in and currently, in the absence of the Women’s Minister, he continues to fill in, and folks, these are big shoes to fill! And he will certainly also fill in for the absence of the Attorney-General! He is reminiscent of our infamous previous attorney-general. And they have a common denominator which is they are lawyers by profession. But unlike the previous infamous A-G who I believe acts as if he knows everything, Mr Vosarogo isn’t like that! Above all however, I strongly believe that their strong negotiation and advocacy skills amalgamated with their articulate and eloquent speaking skills plus their charismatic personality have merited them to these vital government ministries! Vinaka vakalevu honourable Vosarogo! When I grow up, I wanna be like you! ALIPATE TUBERI Suva

Flying Fijians memo

No doubt Frank Lomani is one of the best half backs/fly-halfs in Fiji. He is very skilled, can kick and play in a few other positions on a rugby team. However, for all his skills and talent he has not received the Flying Fijians memo. The memo that says, to release the ball from the scrums and mauls soon as, to let Fiji’s lethal backline do what they were born to do. Create structured chaos at speed and score tries, the likes of which the rugby world has never seen before. The moniker, “The Flying Fijians” is apt and rightfully given, but for Lomani’s delaying tactics, has clipped the wings of our flying backline. Please Frank, like Marc Antony before you, “Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war.” For this 2023 Rugby World Cup is a battlefield and the Flying Fijians main strength is speed. Let the team fly! Toso Viti Toso! Epeli Rabua Ragg Avenue, Tamavua, Suva

How much to show

Big falla Taniela Tupou says the Wallabies “don’t want to show too much before the Rugby World Cup”. They won zero matches in The Rugby Championship, almost won a Bledisloe match and got walloped by France recently. Big Dan Tupou is one good motivational speaker. He is an amazing player but struggles to complete 80 minutes on the pitch. One big tackle and he pulls a big muscle. What Dan Tupou said makes sense, not for his team though. Although the Wallabies may have shown too much already, our own FIJI Water Flying Fijians have definitely not revealed their full armoury yet. What the world has seen in the PRC and against France and England was still trial-and-error by the gaffer Simon. Simon hasn’t said jump yet, and when Simon says “jump” then all will see everything from the team. Big Dan Tupou’s mind games are too easy to read. Simon Raiwalui’s aren’t. His trump cards are still untouched. The Wallabies have shown theirs already. Come on, some Wallaby, reply here! Let’s play the mind games first. This is called hype! Go Fiji! Donald Singh Suva

Byrne at peace!

Apart from the Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui and his robust team management, the Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne and his team management deserve full credit for the success of the Fiji 15s team. From the five Tests, the Flying Fijians beat Tonga, Samoa, Japan, and England and only lost to France. Bulk of the players, who started these Tests, were members of the Drua team which finished eighth on the Super Rugby Pacific standings. Hence, this shows the efforts put in by Byrne and his team to get our local boys in shape for competitive rugby. The mixture of the Drua and our Europe based players has made the 15s team explosive and unpredictable. This is one reason I would have loved to see Byrne in the thick of things. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Byrne believes that Fiji has what it takes to force their way to the quarterfinals of this year’s RWC 15s. I agree with Byrne that after an outstanding performance in their historic 30-22 win against England, the Flying Fijians chance of making it past the pool this year is high. Indeed Byrne, the beauty of the Flying Fijians squad is that there is a balance of overseas-based and local-based players, and we have players from the southern and northern hemispheres so the side will be able to play two different styles of games. I’m confident that Byrne’s boys in the Flying Fijians will not let him down. Toso Viti! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu

Fire safety

Wouldn’t it be nice if the Labasa Town Council could build fire safety boxes on top of the underground fire hydrants with the fire hoses connected to each hydrant? Now this could have saved a lot of time. Keys to the box could be given to the shop keepers and fire training provided to the shop attendants Always remember you need fuel, heat and oxygen for a fire to start and you just have to remove one of them to stop the fire. So please make access to fire hydrants easier. Sukha Singh Labasa

Mobile phone repair

Have you noticed the excessively high charges of repairing smartphones by phone repair shops? Some costs of repairs are so exorbitant might as well buy a new phone. Smartphones have taken over the world and is one of the most important technological evolution of our century. Stricter control and monitoring needs to be carried out. Siding the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission! Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka

A dad

Recently, a friend sent me this lovely piece about, “What is a dad? … “A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead, picks you up, brushes you off and lets you try again. A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead, let’s you find your own way, even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt. A dad is someone who holds you when you cry, scolds you when you break the rules, shines with pride when you succeed and has faith in you even when you fail.” Happy Father’s Day. Colin Deoki Australia

Pothole fix

Bad roads and potholes issues need to addressed quickly before residents, turn them into lovo pits. As summer is starting soon, maybe the kids will use them as a swimming pool. I hope FRA and local government look into this matter. If it’s on feeder roads I would urge communities get together to fix minor road conditions before it turns to a bigger issue and we start blaming the authorities. The question we should ask ourselves, what we can do for our beloved nation? Let’s unite and keep things on the dot. Vineel Nand Perth, Australia

Dark horse

Wikipedia reveals that dark horse is a previously lesser known person or thing that emerges to prominence in a situation, especially in a competition involving multiple rivals, or a contestant that on paper should be unlikely to succeed but yet still might. Respecting others’ views, I think Fijian rugby has graduated from being labelled as a dark horse. In my view, this sounds like an inferior term now. Gone are the days when a quarter-final spot was the target at the world cup, I think the focus should now be turning towards a semi-final spot. And why not beyond? Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka