Politics, women, race Budget debate
PRANIL RAM Votualevu, Nadi
Fijians living abroad
ACCORDING to Tarun Tikaram (FT 15/6 ) Fijians who have left the country to live overseas are “deserters “. I wonder if TT has members of his family and relatives who are “deserters “? And, I wonder what they make of TT’s comment?
RAJEND NAIDU
Sydney, Australia
Breast cancer
THE fight against breast cancer is also a fight for women’s rights: the unnecessary suffering caused by this preventable disease reflects the injustices that uniquely affect women’s health around the world. Together as members of the communities, we can make history to ensure a breast cancer-free future.
JIOJI M CAKACAKA Tadra- Votualevu, Nadi
Police vehicle
KOREA gave 10 ambulances to Fiji. Please FF ask them for a police vehicle for Levuka. ALLEN LOCKINGTON
Kava Place, Lautoka
National budget
MANY can’t wait to find out about our National Budget, I am sure many people will be happy after the budget is delivered but then again no Government can make everyone happy. NARAYAN REDDY Lautoka
Local politics
FROM a political viewpoint (the way politics works), I think Lynda Tabuya scored a goal this week while Sitiveni Rabuka went for an own goal. MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
THE 2022-2023 National Budget consultation has begun, and I believe finger pointing towards opposition parties’ fundraising drives overseas that could be used to launder money is indeed baseless, childish and frivolous as stated by Professor Biman Prasad.
Voters will see before the 2022 General Election, how cool, calm and collected are a number of ministers on their campaign track.
Once back in Parliament for the budget debate the usual high toned voices, interjections finger pointing, table thumping will all be in play.
In the meantime, as a former TIV Lautoka president and current TISI life member I urge our members not to allow politicians to use the temple as a pulpit for political campaign and not be worried about any unnecessary fear.
Don’t be brainwashed about the 1987 coup that happened 35 years ago. Putting food on the table is very important, and ask them what have they contributed personally towards the less fortunate in our society.
My sports and charitable donations speaks volumes of my contributions for donkeys years. I urge the government ministers to drive towards the President’s bure and see firsthand the number of cassava, banana and vegetables at the Lautoka Golf Course surrounding areas given FOC to the many iTaukei families from Banaras, Natokawaqa, Top Line, Tavakubu and more.
Definitely, no politics involved. RAYMOND SINGH
Golf Links, Lautoka
Does anyone care?
I HAD written an opinion column called “Is a me-too movement needed in Fiji?”. Before I sent it to The Fiji Times, I sent it to a few prominent female leaders in Fiji (Coordinator of FWCC, a VC, the past and current Minister for Women and the current Minister for Education) to see what they thought. I received a prompt and excellent response from the past
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum stresses a point during the budget consultation at the FNU in Suva Thursday.
minister who raised some very valid concerns which I feel women leaders should be seriously considering and addressing.
I was quite disappointed not to get any response from the female ministers. I certainly thought they would have something to say as they talk quite a bit about women’s rights. I also thought that the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission director may have something to say.
No, I am not fishing for concurrence. I was curious to see who really cares about this important issue. Maybe I should just stick to the topic I am most passionate about – the dire need for quality education in high schools and how to implement it. Eventually someone may listen.
The column was published on June 18. It has been a week and not one response from women. I asked my wife what the reason could be. She said perhaps they believe The Fiji Times is a “garbage” and do not read it. ARVIND MANI
Nadi
Meaning of racism
I THINK your correspondent Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane (12/6) misunderstands
the meaning of ‘racism’. It is defined (in the Macquarie dictionary of English for the Fiji Islands) as ‘the belief that your own race is better than any other; unpleasant or violent behaviour towards members of another race’. So observations such as Mr Hazelman’s on differences between races (or, if you prefer, ethnic groups) are not racist. Indeed, many health professionals have made similar observations.
Here are some examples that have appeared in The Fiji Times: “findings revealed Indo-Fijians had a diet high in vegetables while indigenous Fijians had more complex carbohydrates”, “Fijians of Indian descent face a higher risk of suffering from obstructed arteries .. many iTaukei men do not present themselves to the hospital until it is almost too late”, “iTaukei people are more obese than Fijians of Indian descent”, “Dr Tukana said in 1985 NCDs in the iTaukei community was at 0.4 per cent and among Fijians of Indian descent it was about 4 per cent.”
These are valuable observations, not racism.
PAUL GERAGHTY
USP, Suva
More letters on pages 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
YES, they have the chance to win against the Kumuls.
IT will be a tough match, and I am hoping for Fiji to win.
SHAHIL SHAH,
Lautoka
FIJI Bati will win against the Kumuls.
RACHAEL BAINIVALU, Nadi
FIJI Bati all the way to victory.
KOLINIO MUDUNASOKO, Nadi