Are we really independent
ALLEN Lockington asked a seemingly simple but a very pertinent and thoughtprovoking question (FT 10/10) about independence — are we really independent?
It brings up a myriad of other questions — why do countries want to become independent? One school of thought is it is the same reason you hate your boss: reporting to someone and being told what to do sucks. It’s especially strong in the case of those countries where the coloniser probably just wants to use your resources and usually gives nothing back.
Was this happening to Fiji? Was Fiji ready to become independent? Is Fiji better today than it was 49 years ago?
Independence signifies that a country can defend its own position and thus have the ability to maintain itself. Wanting independence is one thing. What we really need to know is if a country can sustain independence.
Most of the readers were probably too young when Fiji became independent. It was a seamless and happy transition from a colony to a republic — somewhat akin to removing the training wheels from your bicycle.
This letter has nothing to do with that type of independence. It is perhaps just a sign of the times but there has been a sharp decline in values, morals and ethics in the past 50 years.
I believe people have become too lazy. Farmers used to harvest 300 tonnes of cane without hiring labourers — they would help each other out. They would plant their own vegetables without the use of any chemicals. Now they drink kava all day and blame everyone else for their lives.
There was no electricity and not many high schools. As a matter of fact, there were only two secondary schools in the Nadroga district — Andhra High School and Cuvu High School.
Students would walk a mile or so to the main road to get on a bus from as far as Savusavu and Kavanagasau to come to school and they would excel in studies. There are numerous scholars of that time who are respectable professionals abroad — academics, writers, doctors, consultants. One is hard-pressed to think of students of late who are intellectuals. Just last week, the director of a finance company advertised for business development managers and wholesales dealers.
He was shocked at the calibre of the applicants — candidates with Masters who could not even write proper CVs, let alone speak articulately.
I had better communication skills the high school than the graduate candidates I interviewed. High school (or is it college) students do not know who Shakespeare and Dickens are! Forty-nine years ago, our word was our bond — you knew you would not be had.
If someone promised to show up, he would even though you did not have a mobile phone to hound him. Last week, I gave a guy some money to paint my front gate. I have called him five times and his phone is diverted. Sadly this is all too common. I am sure you all have horror stories of how you have been conned by handymen. The list is endless.
So yes, Allen — we really are independent — I believe we are totally independent from good values — honesty, respect, cleanliness. We are free from a good standard of education. We are free from the marriage vows. I believe we are free to beat our wives, rape our children, steal and bribe.
We are free to practise the seven deadly sins. Shame on us!
ARVIND MANI
Nadi