Please act

All things rising

GLOBAL warming, is not the only thing rising. Food, oil prices and the cost of living, are also steadily increasing. The supply chains, are also being affected and broken, leading to chaos and unwanted situations.

Where is all this leading to? A world that will be different, from what we have been used to, because in other countries, we are dependent.

EDWARD BLAKELOCK

Pacific Harbour

Real issues

BUDGET consultations and handouts are ongoing full swing by the Government alongside the criticism of other political parties.

I fully agree with Professor Biman Prasad that Government should be talking about real issues facing people and the nation rather than being stuck in the past.

For the sake of clarity, let all political parties announce their manifestos at a given date.

I would love to see which parties will increase the retirement age from 55 years to 60 and bring back the municipal council elections.

The Minister for Economy should not be comparing Fiji with the economies of Australia and New Zealand and for that matter even Sri Lanka. It is a well-known fact that the ongoing Ukrainian and Russian war is a threat to all countries’ economies, not just Fiji. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, even Sri Lanka’s economy will bounce back despite its worst economic crisis in decades.

Passionate Sri Lankans world over, including Fiji, are contributing big time through remittances to the country of their birth. On a positive note the Australian government has committed to sending $50 million in aid for food and healthcare needs. You can be rest assured that just like your “smart borrowing”, in time to come Sri Lanka will have a smarter borrowing plan to revive its ailing economy.

I believe Fiji also relies on taxpayer dollars and donor agencies’ funding alongside the loans into the billions of dollars.

Let us focus on real issues affecting the less fortunate in our society rather than comparing the economies of other countries. What say Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, and Jan Nissar of

NSW, Australia?

Oops, he is now busy worrying about trade union leaders in Fiji who are elected to their respective positions year in and year out without fail.

You seem to be the only one asking questions as you say. Again, I ask you to take me on for an open debate on any topic and see who is the real grog dopey.

Until then, moce mada! RAYMOND SINGH

Marine Dr, Lautoka

I WRITE this open letter to the Minister for Health requesting him to make a submission to the national budget consultation team to include the upgrading of the car park and a footpath at the CWM Hospital at the back of the new and old wings. I am a regular visitor to the CWM Hospital and I am deeply perturbed by the neglect of improving parking facilities and providing a footpath from the Hoodless House to the new wing at Extension St. Students staying at the hostel have to walk a very boggy and muddy patch between the two wings to reach the FNU-run Fiji School of Medicine at the lower end of Extension St. Hundreds of vehicles are parked by the workers along this route behind the two wings. The area is muddy, bumpy and clogged with pools of stagnant water (ideal for breeding mosquitoes). Above all I believe the area is not OHS (Occupational Health & Safety) compliant. Does the OHS Act apply to CWM Hospital? If it does, why is it not being practised! The area in question needs to be graded and gravelled as an immediate measure to avoid any serious mishap. The current temporary walk-way is a public hazard. Walkers can easily tumble into the ravine, get hurt or even die. The hospital administration has not bothered to provide the safety railings along the route. This issue should be treated as an urgent public safety measure and all corrective actions be taken immediately. The car parks in front of the two wings and the NDC (National Diabetes Centre) simply cannot cope. They are always packed to capacity and the vehicle owners are forced to park on the footpath and get booked.

Therefore, my humble appeal, on behalf of the staff, students and the visitors to the CWM Hospital, to the Honourable Minister. Please act.

DEWAN CHAND

Namadi Heights, Suva