If I had a million dollars
THE Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian rock band (made up of four guys) formed in 1988.
The band reached mainstream success in Canada when they made a single If I had a million dollars. What if it was a billion dollars –– but, you had to spend it?
I would spend at least half of it dredging the Nadi River so that the jet set town –– which is soon to become a city –– does not get flooded so much.
Our overly optimistic Minister for Local Government was ready to declare it a city last year. We were shaking our heads at this unrealistic expectation. She became a bit subdued in her enthusiasm and wanted Nadi to become a city on October 10, 2020 to coincide with our 50th independence anniversary celebration.
We were still shaking our heads. Then reality set in. Now the projected date is not certain –– perhaps before the 2022 election?
The rest I would spend on some other projects dear to my heart.
One of them is building libraries in all the towns and upgrade the existing ones so that Fijians would develop a reading culture rather than wasting all their time and money in drinking kava which has been declared not to be a drug by the Ministry of Education.
The other idea that keeps me up at night (besides my overwhelming urge to empty my bladder from all the wine I have been drinking because of the reduction in liquor prices so even retirees like me can imbibe freely) is to introduce adult education. Our senior citizens can be taught life skills in the evenings that can make their lives more fulfilling and enjoyable so that they are not just waiting to die.
The infrastructure is already there –– the schools and the instructors are there –– teachers that have had to retire at 55 at which age they have all the wisdom they have acquired over their teaching lives.
I am sure they would be willing to do it because they were in the vocation of improving lives. Another passion of mine is to start Toastmasters clubs all over Fiji including one in the august House so that our parliamentarians can speak fluently.
Rugby is big in Fiji and the captains are often interviewed at the end of the game and they are hardly able to talk. It makes me wonder which high school (sorry, er college) they went to. I am sure they would be willing to spend one hour a week to improve their spoken skills.
There is only one Toastmasters club in Fiji –– a sad testimony to the lack of desire to speak well which is such a vitally important skill that will help in all areas of our lives. Well, I have some other plans that would go a long way in making our lives better except that the powers that be are entirely unreceptive to them.
Well, not entirely. I had recently written a letter, “False Information” where I said that Radio Fiji 2 was announcing that we should not believe social media because they are spreading false information about the coronavirus.
I wrote that they need to explain what the false information was or remove the announcement. I did not hear it for a few days and thought they had removed it!
Finally, someone listened to me! Maybe it is a preview of things to come. I already started to feel like a million dollars! But then I heard it just now! How hypocritical to go against what they are promoting. As Trump would say: “Sad”.
ARVIND MANI
Nadi to guard against traders trying to get rid of old and dodgy stock during the forthcoming Suva sale is a timely reminder.
I do hope, however, that Consumer Council of Fiji and Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) can do more in terms of providing buyers necessary guarantees against defects and malfunction when it comes to purchasing equipment and machines. Also, they should check if the new prices expected after the duty reduction announced in the budget is being followed.
The other day I went to a prominent hardware outlet, I was advised, while purchasing a motor worth close to $1000, that the warranty is only three months.
In some cases this warranty starts the day the product leaves the point of origin and so by the time the user buys and installs, there is hardly any time left. I was also advised by another company that the prices will not come down since now they are paying more for freight and shipping! Another very prominent outlet gives no warranty at all announcing very proudly that “our company gives no warranty”.
I believe this is the height of arrogance. I believe the not so surprising attitude of the traders is to ensure that their bottom line is not affected. As always, the poor consumer suffers in spite of all the hoopla about reduced duty, prices etc.
Surely we expect the Consumer Council of Fiji and FCCC to be more aggressive in ensuring that customers are not given a raw deal when buying some of these higher-end products and white goods.
It’s all very well prosecuting supermarkets for selling expired goods, but hey hardly anyone buys food to store for months. Also the value of these are small compared with the purchase of equipment and hardware. My plea to FCCC and Consumer Council of Fiji is for them to monitor prices and terms of sales for these big items such as hardware, furniture, electrical goods etc.
MONISH CHAND
Suva on Monday, September 28 with thousands of teachers reporting to their respective schools to gear up for the remaining part of this academic year.
The usual practice is to have a staff meeting where teachers discuss all relevant issues, allocate/re-affirm responsibilities to be carried out by each teacher.
If there have been resignations, retirements or terminations then the timetable is recast.
The life of a teacher is never easy. It is timetable bound and they cannot deviate from it. They must report to classes on time, conduct lessons, listen to students grievances, attend to parental complaints, prepare lesson plans, mark exercise books/ exam papers, supervise sports and other co-curricular activities etc.
At the end of the day a teacher is a very tired person.
Therefore, it is imperative that teachers pay attention to their physical and mental health. Inculcation of good eating and drinking habits is paramount.
Thousands of primary and secondary school students reported to schools on Tuesday, September 29.
One can well imagine the excitement and eagerness to meet their friends, classmates and teachers.
The school corridors explode with a cacophony of voices, a moment which you would like to capture in your memory for the rest of your life.
The school indeed becomes a hive of activities!
Despite whatever is being pontificated about the moral responsibilities of parents (mothers in particular), they are the happiest to see their children return to school after the well-deserved holidays.
It is never easy to manage your own children.
Children hardly listen to their mothers and are always up to springing pranks.
Thus you can well imagine the relief and smile of mothers who have packed off their children to school. What a relief!
Many middle to low income earners are grateful to the FijiFirst Government policies on children’s education: free textbooks, bus fares, scholarships and many other forms of help during this COVID-19 lockdown pandemic. Unemployment or part-time work is a real challenge. However, with good governance and reliable leadership the nation is very hopeful.
DEWAN CHAND
Donu Place, Namadi Heights, Suva