Help the poor, tour
Help your people
THOSE businesses that were directly and fully dependent on tourists are one by one forced to close down in Nadi Town as the new month begins.
These retailing outlets are obviously left with no business thus the closure. Once a bustling place, the Nadi Handicraft Centre is now struggling to stay afloat.
This is happening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to affect the world and at this juncture it is not showing any sign of slowing down.
The owners of these businesses and all their workers are now left with no income and they don’t know what the future holds for them.
I don’t know if these people have or will receive any assistance from the Government specially those who have no provident fund to rely on. For those whose provident fund has run dry and have no income every day their struggle to feed their family gets tougher.
This is the time when Government, I think, should use part of any disaster relief funds it has to assist the people who have been affected by the pandemic.
Right now feeding the hungry mouths should be a top priority of the Government.
If there was any time our poor and disadvantaged people needed the help from the Government it is now. All political agenda has to be put aside for the time being just concentrate on helping the people who are in need of food right now.
But you have to reach the people first.
SURESH CHAND
Nadi
Listening tour
IT’S quite interesting to read, how the media can help you, to either make it or break it.
While one newspaper earnestly, factually and being unbiased, reported about the fact-finding and listening tour of the West, by SODELPA and NFP leaders.
At the same time the other newspaper took a completely different approach and reported about NFP stalwarts not being consulted and Prof Biman Prasad made the sole decision to join Mr Rabuka for the listening tour.
One reading the news should not get influenced by biased reporting in the media, but should always ask the question, that is, is the listening tour during this pandemic the right thing to do by our honourable MPs or not.
Would this listening tour foster goodwill relationship between the two leaders, keeping in mind Fiji’s ethnic diversity?
During this pandemic one should in all earnestness, ask not who is doing what, but what is being done to help, not just a few elite but all the concerned victims, either directly or indirectly who got affected by COVID-19.
I sincerely recommend to the media that while your role is important not only during this pandemic but all the time, hence please do report issues of major concern, to all the citizens of Fiji in a non-political manner, so readers would not be led to believe that NFP has a split in its party or NFP and SODELPA are in bed together, and the list can go on.
RUDRA PRASAD
Namadi Heights, Suva