Freebies, onion price Making the transition
Out of touch
“LAVISH ministries” (FT 23/12), says the man whose portfolio swag made former Australian PM, Scott Morrison’s, look paltry.
CHRISTOPHER GRIFFIN Perth, Australia
Bulitavu’s wish
BULITAVU is hopeful that in the next six months he might be in Government because he knows there is someone in the coalition following his footsteps. SUKHA SINGH
Labasa
On reflection
WHEN I see Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the man often referred to as the “Minister for Everything”, now sitting in the Opposition bench without any portfolio and Prof Biman Prasad now Deputy PM (after being kicked out as Chair of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee) by Khaiyum’s government, I am reminded of the saying “Every dog has its day”.
RAJEND NAIDU
Sydney, Australia
The promise
IT’S happening. More to follow.
DAN URAI
Lautoka
Xmas message
TO say that we are duty bound to forgive our enemies and those who hurt us was a profound acknowledgement by our new Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who himself faced a campaign of vilification and even litigation by his political opponents since the day he launched his own political party and renewed his intention to stand in the 2022 General Election, in which he toppled coup strongman, Frank Bainimarama’s FijiFirst party. Congratulations, sir for regaining the leadership of our country and thank you for a heartfelt Christmas message, which was the best I’ve heard in a long time. SAMU RAILOA
Nadi
We hope
THIS culture of freebies must transition to infrastructure development and economic growth opportunities.
Most of the big countries that Fiji looks up to do not have free tertiary education. Giving interest-free loans to students is as good as it should get. Once students start working there should be no issue for them to pay back the loans.
In addition, with the significant increase in wage rates, water and electricity subsidies should be removed and it should be reserved for a narrow criteria only. Other than savings on government expenditure, it will also result in more thoughtful use of these scarce resources. Further, the same funds can be used to improve the reliability of those services.
Taxpayers’ money should be divested towards improving infrastructure and employment opportunities for the people. Hand-outs fulfill very short-sighted political goals but do not take the country forward in the long run.
KIRAN KHATRI
Samabula, Suva
STRENGTHEN my relationship with God, achieve my goal and make my parents happy.
MY New Year’s resolution is to cut down on drinking grog and avoid eating junk food.