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‘A good newspaper is a nation talking to itself’
Quiet Christmas Wise Muavono, Balawa, Lautoka
It will be a quiet Christmas for the thousands of Fijians still unemployed due to the pandemic. If only the different political parties they support could spare some change for Christmas groceries. But that is very unlikely in this cruel and selfish world.
Seasons of Joy Neelz Singh, Lami
Dear readers, don’t we agree and hope that peace prevails without any grievances this Christmas season, let’s enjoy responsibly and contradict the best out of family gathering and merry making. Fijian culture is full of vibrant inter-cultural and we enjoy our festive seasons and shopping.
Also a reminder to parents that they need to be vigilant and know the whereabouts of their children. Don’t let them play near the main road or send them to rivers for a swim without any supervision. Donate to people who need the most.
Corporate parties are on rise this festive month and so is the drinking spree. Some youths might also be engaged within clubs; drink responsibly.
Hats off to our Police officers and front line COVID warriors in keeping our nation safer for everyone. Let’s share the joy and find the true meaning of this Christmas, wishing all Fijians a Merry Christmas, God Bless.
Australian Petition Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Lautoka
There is a brave move building up momentum in Australia today, which will affect Fijians who helped out in the Australian economy during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown.
A Petition number “EN3547-Permanent Residency Path for Contributors to Economy During the Pandemic” is to be presented and heard in the Australian Parliament on 22 December 2021 and last time I checked, nearly 60,000 signatures have signed the Petition online. The reason for the Petition is as follows: Temporary Residents have lived in Australia and supported the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their support of the economy has taken many forms: work, study, paying rent, paying taxes, supporting local businesses and Australian online retailers, etc. Disruptions to the migration programme during the pandemic coupled limited or unattainable pathways to Permanent Residency means that the future for many Temporary Residents in Australia is uncertain.
Over the next couple of years, many will be forced to leave Australia, a country they have grown to love. Australia must follow the lead of countries like New Zealand and Canada and recognize the contribution of Temporary Residents during the pandemic with a Permanent
Residency pathway.
The Petition therefore asks the House to establish a pathway to Permanent Residency for Temporary Residents who have lived in Australia and supported its economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have read articles suggesting that Australia should not be sending or deporting people who have worked, paid tax and helped the economy, as it would be a costly exercise. Instead, Australia should grant an Amnesty, allowing these people to become Residents of Australia.
If we have Fijian family and friends living or stuck in Australia right now, it would be to their advantage to sign the Petition as we never know; this Christmas might just turn out to be an unforgettable one!
Get Fijians in Australia to sign the Petition on: aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN3547
We in Fiji will also benefit immensely if this Petition becomes a reality!
The National Archives of Fiji
Satish Nakched, Suva.
The National Archives of Fiji at 25 Carnarvon Street in Suva is in a great fire risk with two defective fire panels which are completely non-functional. The fire panels are connected to the smoke detectors which are mounted on the ceiling of the building and if there is a slight evidence of smoke the signal will be electronically sent from the transponder which is a component of the fire panel directly to the National Fire Authority control room giving the exact location of the room of the fire.
This happens without physical human interference and greatly reduces lost time for the NFA to attend. Some buildings also have fire sprinklers which are activated when the room temperature rises and effectively extinguish the threat. Sadly, there is no active fire approach system in the building that contains the historic repository.
The National Archives collects and preserves Fiji’s documentary heritage and makes it available to the public through exhibitions, and research services.
The collection contains around a million archival documents on 5 kilometres of shelving and 1.5 kilometres of publications, along with over 100,000 historical photographs and over 2000 hours of historical footage.
These records constitute a large portion of the nation’s collective memory, and provide a bridge for users to reach back in time to find vital information for present day issues such as family genealogy, and the events that led to the birth of the nation.
Once we lose these archaic treasures it is gone forever. The management of the depository and the relevant Ministry is in a sleep mode and we demand that the fire-extinguishing system is revamped. Currently we experience at least one structural conflagration per week in the country and electrical cause of the infernos tops the list.