Women and land
Women’s day
LAST Friday was a very special day. A day for us women. A day when we got appreciation and recognition. A day when we are made to feel special with warm wishes and gifts. A day set aside for accolades and exposure for the wonders women portrayed and accumulated. The radio stations were hyped up like any other occasion to make the nation roll on the waves of women’s success and relevancy. Why not? Women are the pillars of society who are trying their level best to achieve their goals and ambitions. Women are now getting out of their comfort zones and doing things that once were thought to be only for males. Rather sad I must say that women who are such important elements in shaping the world are ridiculed, victimised and discredited by “some” sick dominating males who simply cannot see their success. Rather than lending a helping hand, “some” are busy downgrading and shaming them.
One only has to go on social media to see how women are insulted, humiliated and attacked especially by faceless accounts which do not have the ability to speak with their actual identity. “Cowards” in other words. In this male-dominated world, seeing women excel is a huge achievement for the present and future female leaders.
Today, women are seen in different sectors trying to beat the gender biased concept. We can only admire and appreciate the ladies who have the courage to break barriers and move forward.
To all the men out there. You become a real gentleman when you help lift the females around you. Degrading them with doubt and pushing them behind shows your lack of manhood, nothing else. I say thank you to all those males who know the value of helping and uplifting women where possible.
I hope every woman had a very happy and peaceful women’s day.
KIRTI PATEL Mohan Singh Pl, Lautoka
Return land
NOW that the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) has made known its intention to sell 1000 acres of its freehold land, I call upon the Government to immediately intervene, and to return ownership of all such FSC freehold lands to their original iTaukei landowners (and not TLTB, unless agreed to by the landowners themselves).
These lands should have been, by right, returned to the original iTaukei landowners from when the Government, through the FSC, took over from the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR) in 1973.
All these lands were alienated from their original iTaukei landowners by various reasons and methods, and this is the opportunity to put them right once and for all. The rights of the indigenous iTaukei landowners at issue here is enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Rights (UNDRIP)
The Government. through its relevant agencies such as the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Ministry of Sugar, and Ministry of Lands, should now take necessary action.
SAVERIO BALEIKANACEA Delainavesi, Lami