Maskless teenage pedestrians

Shortly after 6:30am, Friday, October 1, 2021, during my brisk one hour five kilometres walk, I observed five school girls, totally maskless.

There was no duty cop in sight at the junction of Queens Rd and Northern Press Road, Martintar in Nadi.

May I politely say, the girls were of the real “boisterous and ‘wacece’ (show off) kind” - very loud, as if they were in their school playground.

It appears, some pedestrians could not care less about wearing masks now.

There were other maskless pedestrians I encountered along the Denarau bypass road; Enamanu Road and along Martintar. Is this the new norm now?

With guards dropped, we are definitely heading for bad times ahead when pedestrians become complacent.

Our friendly police officers must remain totally laser-focussed at all times. Familiarity will breed contempt.

Suva market hazard Satish Nakched,

Suva

There are metal frame barriers about six feet in height that are temporary erected around the Suva Municipal Market to control the people movement due to the pandemic. The metal frame end sits in the slot in the anchor to keep it up right and the section of the fence are secured with pieces of rope.

However, due to the people movement the fence at places are now dangerously leaning inwards at about 60 degrees angle towards the vendors and can easily injure a person on the head and there are chances of the fence just toppling over due to the cracks in the plastic anchor bases.

The metal frames support is not that strong and are used to secure tarpaulin for the protection of the vendors from the weather that is also contributing to the collapse.

The duty of care to ensure the place is safe for business is the responsibility of the municipality and regular systematic risk assessment must be conducted to eliminate the hazard mentioned.

The exposure rate for this threat is very high and increases double fold at the weekend.

FNPF Assistance

Jaheed Buksh, Sigatoka

I wonder how many people will be shocked to see the FNPF remaining balance in future since past one year they have been continuing to withdraw to survive.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj