Letters to the Editor: September 28, 2020

Keeping our heads up

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made a point yesterday that is worth raising. He said, while Fiji has contained the coronavirus, the country has not been spared of its economic devastation. That’s a given. No country has been spared the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s just the harsh reality of our lives right now....

Taking a hit

Australia leaves Fiji to flounder Fiji’s fiscal year begins in August, and the government brought down its 2020- 21 budget in July. The most striking feature of that budget is that total expenditure in the coming year is budgeted to be virtually unchanged compared with the preceding two years. Adjusting for (mild) inflation, expenditure in...

Letters to the Editor – September 27, 2020

A cut above the rest THE Marist 7s tournament is a cut above the rest! I strongly believe that it’s a prelude and the shadow to the much-awaited and anticipated annual Hong Kong 7s event. Wow, as a spectator I’m just so blown away with the depth of potential and talent that’s at our disposal,unleashed...

Editorial comment – Let’s do this

Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete made an interesting point the other day. The ministry, he said, was reviewing its data in order to confirm that Fiji does not have any COVID-19 community transmission case. “I would like to say that we have reviewed our data, looked at what’s happening in Fiji and we have reason...

Pet Life – Who is SPCA?

SPCA stands for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Some know the sign, others may just notice it now with this article – but here is some of what happens behind that sign and that bamboo wall. SPCA and humane societies of various sorts, and under various names all originated as a place...

Appreciating life in a pandemic

There’s nothing like a near death experience to make you appreciate life, even in the time of pandemic. My brush with mortality came a few weeks ago, with double vision, extreme headache, unsightly facial swelling and a spot of blindness. Obviously not a good look but don’t panic, it is a condition that mostly afflicts...

Letters to the Editor – September 26, 2020

Huge upset in Suva National 7s coach Gareth Baber had every right to make yesterday’s front page. Apart from going out on the prowl for new and exciting 7s players at the Marist 7s tournament, the Welshman has pledged his support for WOWS Kids Fiji. Baber has registered for the ‘Great WOWS Walk’ where he...

Editorial comment – 7s fever in the city

The hype is building up at the annual Marist 7s rugby tournament in Suva. Every year the cream of the crop of our 7s pool converge at the national stadium to compete for top honours. Every year, there are surprises, and there are rookies who turn heads. It’s all part of what is arguably the...

A beloved son of Fiji

Bula readers, this week I thought I would interview a man known to many of us for his excellence in many fields. He was a former captain of the 15s Fiji national rugby team and also captain of the Fiji national volleyball team. In public office he served as director of Town and Country Planning...

Change in prices – Effectiveness of our monitoring regime

Now that the dust has settled on the much debated 2020-2021 Budget we need to move on and focus our attention on its implementation. A lot has been spoken, written and heard about the budget, some in favour and some against. But it is imperative to acknowledge this budget is unique in that it is...

Drowning a concern

The Global report on drowning states it is among the ten leading causes of death of children and young people in every region of the world with over half the casualties under the age of 25 years. Children under five years are disproportionately at a greater risk with males twice as likely to drown than...

‘Preferential support for some media’

All good governments try to ensure that markets for products and producers in their jurisdiction are competitive. This ensures not just efficient allocation of resources, but also some degree of fairness to consumers and firms. Fiji has had over the years many organisations formally charged with that duty. The latest is the Fijian Competition and...

In whose interest

We all breathed a sigh of relief a month ago when the saga at USP appeared over and good governance and common sense had prevailed. But now, instead of respecting the council’s decision to move on to allow the university to carry out its core mandate of quality education to our people, the Fiji Government...

Is all above board

There is considerable controversy over the multi-million dollar state-of-the-art office complex for the Prime Minister, at a time when thousands of our working families are suffering through job losses, paycuts and reduced working hours as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. In his usual garbled style, Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum justified this “extravagance” thus in...

Islanders to the rescue

This is the second time in less than a year that Pacific Islanders have come to Australia’s aid. When the bushfires gutted Australia’s east coast last summer, devastated Australians were incredibly thankful for the support from our Pacific friends. Papua New Guinea sent 100 soldiers to help fight the flames. Fire-ravaged towns such as Merimbula...

Letters to the Editor – September 25, 2020

Jerry’s influence Hats off to Jovesa Naisua for the wonderful shot on yesterday’s front page! Jo captured our 7s heartbeat Jerry Tuwai making a pass during the Barbarian Brothers 7s team training at the Suva Grammar School grounds as the side prepared for this week’s Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament. Competition will be tough. Defending...

Editorial comment – Taking the lead

It was encouraging to note that an educational one-day water safety fair drew 146 children to Suva’s Damodar Aquatic Centre yesterday. The event was organised as an immediate response to the recent drowning cases around the country. The first of its kind, the initiative, targeting children between the ages of five and 18 years, was...

A champion of the poor – A tribute to Father Kevin Barr

GOD called Father Kevin Barr on Thursday, September 17 to eternal rest. Father Barr is a strong believer in God who hears the cry of the poor and wants to transform the world. Father Barr’s life can be summed up in a commitment to the God of the poor, justice, love and peace. He radically...

Letters to the Editor: Thursday, September 24, 2020

Marist 7s set to kick off The much-awaited Marist 7s tournament kicks off this weekend and will add spice to another sporting weekend. The latest I read is that our 7s kingpin and WRSS 2019 best 7s player Jerry Tuwai has formed his own club. Hence, the Flourishing Design Studio Barbarian Brothers 7s team will...

Editorial comment: A growing concern

It seems there is no end in sight as police confirmed another case of drowning yesterday. A five-year-old boy drowned during a family picnic in Vunidogoloa Village, Savusavu on Monday. The stats are shocking and should be a major concern. In fact we should all be concerned, and we should be forced into action, to...

OPINION: A sustainable future

The message of Fiji’s commitment to global peace and sustainable management of natural resources by the Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, at the UN’s 75th anniversary may have a positive long-term implications. This reflects the contribution of Fijian peacekeepers to defend the defenceless and diplomatic ocean diplomacy to conserve it for future generations. It becomes...

Letters to the Editor – September 23, 2020

Foreshore mangrove planting We read in the media this week about an environmental group that has been planting thousands of mangrove seedlings at the Suva foreshore with an aim to plant even more. While concern about the environment and its protection is admirable, this project certainly raises some questions. The Suva foreshore between the stadium...

Editorial comment – Cutting road accidents

“Wait here. I will be back soon!” They were the last words Ledua Bulutani said to his wife Olivia Lele on Sunday. She would never hear from her husband again. Mr Bulutani and his 62-year-old aunt died in a freak accident when the car they were travelling in veered off the road and tumbled down...

‘Tread with caution’

The Pacific Islands Forum is calling for changes to the law governing the region’s maritime boundaries. A Regional Conference on Securing the Limits of the Blue Pacific focussed on the legal options, institutional responses to the impact of sea-level rise on baselines and the context of international law. Delegates agreed the existing law did not...

Letters to the Editor – September 22, 2020

When Nadi held on The sleeping giant must have heard the echoes of the sweet and melodious singing from the Nadi and Naitasiri supporters on Saturday during the Skipper Cup rugby match. Prince Charles Park has not always been a happy ground for my turaga naita from the highlands. The visitors could have won but...

Editorial comment – Making tough calls

Pete Navosailagi was loved by his family. He would have celebrated his 29th birthday yesterday. In fact his mum, Adi Ateca Vokili, looked forward to the big day. There was cause for celebration, for many reasons. Ms Vokili said she spoke to her son last week. He had called her to apologise that he would...

Separate ethnic boxes

Two African-American women gathered together a group of other African-Americans and raised enough money to purchase 97 acres of land in the state of Georgia in US. A new city will be built on this land, to be named “Freedom”. Plans have already been drawn up to provide a place where, as one of them...

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