Drua desire

Dark Days

LET me respond to Rajend Naidu (FT23/4). One might wonder where Rajend was during the dark days of 2000 let alone 1987 when his favourite lawyer Richard Naidu almost got himself into a lovo pit.

I believe had it not been for honourable PM Voreqe Bainimarama our beloved country not yours Rajend, Fiji would have been on the brink of anarchy. He almost gave his life to save our, not yours Rajend, beloved country to what it is today.

We have free education and bus fares, social welfare and pension schemes and benefits, free bus fares for those over 65, a taxation system where workers don’t pay taxes until they reach $30,000 pay threshold, free medical and medicine schemes, $20,000 grants to those wishing to start or buy a new home and the list goes on Rajend. Unprecedented. We had nine years of consecutive unprecedented economic growth. Perhaps you might like to read World Bank’s revised poverty rate for Fiji which has hurt and annoyed Biman as it has spoiled his tea party.

We received huge international praise from WHO and the US, Australian and NZ embassies for brilliantly managing our COVID situation. We are in total control of the pandemic today with no deaths being recorded and with only 17 active cases whereas COVID cases are increasing daily in Australia and NZ.

You didn’t mention any of these achievements did you. You mentioned several names that made me laugh Rajend.

Have you seen the 1960 western movie “The Magnificent Seven”.

Eli Wallach was the villain and he had the luxury of having his close associates as his support, close companions and partners. In movie language they are called sidekicks.

So I believe these are all Biman’s sidekicks.

But nevertheless thank you for mentioning these names as we can now see your affiliation.

Finally let me say this once again as I have said it before. You have all the right to leave but do not interfere into the sovereign state of our beloved country.

I believe you have deserted Fiji and have lost all love, passion and patriotism for the country you were born in so why meddle into our political affairs now. The only thing you achieve by doing so is create a division and damage race relations which is the last thing the country needs.

Our PM has introduced reforms to unite the country where everyone is now called Fijian which instills a sense of belonging.

He had the political will and courage to make such a bold decision.

I am sure even your sidekicks hadn’t thought of it coming when it did. It was our PM’s vision for the country as one of the cornerstones of “one nation one people” concept.

It is at this point I would like to thank our compassionate iTaukei land owners for kindly and graciously sharing their land with other communities as an accommodating gesture of goodwill, love and respect. Only when the country has formed a bedrock of unity is when we can achieve Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara’s vision of peace, progress and prosperity. Elections are around the corner in Australia so perhaps you might like to comment on issues that needs to be addressed in your own country Rajend. TARUN TIKARAM Marine Drive, Lami

THE desire to witness the Drua in action is shared by every Fijian. Not a single Fijian would miss the game if they had their way. Unfortunately, the socio economic realities compounded with the geographical barriers in Fiji would not allow many die hard fans to be able to watch the game in person in Suva.

Times are hard. Many people would go without food for a day or two if that saving meant watching the game live. But the fact of the matter is that many have to quench their desire because the needs of the family and the children is paramount.

A vast majority of families are living on a day to day basis. Every dollar counts. They simply cannot make it to Suva despite the wish. Many were planning to see the game live on TV.

In August 1991, television was temporarily set up in Fiji only for the people to watch the Rugby World Cup after Fiji had performed beyond expectation in the inaugural 1987 World Cup. That opportunity has been denied today.

Television, rugby and grog have a special place in Fiji homes when our team is playing. I believe to say that, “we need to encourage people to come and watch the game, and not sit at home, drink grog and watch it on TV” is a very insulting statement.

It is insensitive and an insult to the Fijian ethos. All the fame collected by the players on the field can be tarnished by such utterances by an a administrator in seconds. When we agree to work for a company or a country, it is our responsibility to respect the cultural aspects of the work environment. Such comments are very insensitive and should not have been made.

All the best to the Drua team and majority of us will surely watch a delayed coverage with the same enthusiasm. Toso boys. RAJENDRA PRASAD Niudamu Rd, Nakasi