Let’s not Become Victims of Our own Stupidity

It is sad and disturbing that some people have ignored the safety tips during this Cyclone Keni period.

Despite the numerous warnings about the danger of venturing out, some have defied them choosing to have fun in the rain.

The schools have been closed for two days to restrict the movements of students as a safety precaution. It means students should not be out there in the open.

Yesterday, in one neighbourhood, students were playing in the rain and clearly enjoying it.

But where are the parents or guardians? If it is not safe to be at school, it is not safe to be playing in the rain or roaming around in the neighbourhood or town.

It makes a mockery of the reason for school closure. It would be better to keep them in the classroom learning than being out there looking for fun in this inclement weather.

They should be indoors and there are lots of things they can do in their homes. They can help with washing and cleaning up and helping mum and dad in taking care of some of the household chores.

It is also a good time to study and catch up with unfinished school homework.

We call on all parents and guardians to supervise their children to ensure that they do not venture out without any valid reason.

This is their responsibility and they would be held accountable if tragedy occurs because they have failed to heed the warning.

Some of the deaths so far have been directly linked to failure to obey safety instructions.

Again we stress that it is vitally important, for the safety of everyone, to listen and follow instructions. We have only ourselves to blame if we become victims because of our own stupidity. SEVENS HEROES SET FOR MORE GLORY

We congratulate Gareth Baber and his Hong Kong heroes for continuing to improve as they recapture their winning form.

If they continue in the same spirit, they are set for more glory in the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup.

Sending their top team to Hong Kong, unlike other teams which sent their second string sides, was the right thing to do.

Skipper Seremaia Tuwai made it clear that they did it because they respected and honoured the Hong Kong Sevens, the code’s Holy Grail.

Now battle-hardened, they are ready for the Commonwealth Games, although there is still room for improvement in their defence and maintaining the intensity for the full 14 minutes.

There’s no doubt other teams that sent their top squads early to the Gold Coast, bypassing Hong Kong, are studying videos of the Fijian play in Hong Kong and working out strategies to exploit the weaknesses and combat the strengths.

The Fijians are peaking at the right time and there is no reason why they can’t pick up the Commonwealth crown if they eliminate their weaknesses. Then there is the prospect of the World Cup in San Francisco.

For that preparation it is understood they are going to a quiet town in Utah, United States, where they will enjoy state of the art high altitude training to build their stamina and speed. when they go to San Francisco, they will be ready to do battle with the best in the world.

Baber and Tuwai, we could say, are in the driver’s seat. Hong Kong was a big scalp, no matter what other teams think.It has set the perfect platform for the Commonwealth Games battle.