Weddings, democracy
Register, update
ELIGIBLE voters should go out of their way, to register for, or update their Voter ID
Card today.
Please do not miss this given opportunity, to ensure your eligibility and ability, to vote in the upcoming General Elections. Your single vote will help to determine, who is to govern, our beloved island nation, for the next four year term of Parliament, as the newly elected government, to look after all our interests.
So, try your best not to miss it.
EDWARD BLAKELOCK
Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour
Orwellian order
RICHARD Naidu’s article “Is this really how our democracy should be? Rules for everything” (FT 25/6).
No, that’s not how our democracy should be.
That sounds more like the modus operandi of the Orwellian totalitarian state.
It’s a crying shame if that’s the kind of democracy Fiji has after its “return to democracy” following the 2006 military coup and subsequent period of dictatorship.
RAJEND NAIDU
Sydney, Australia
Family ties
ACROSS all societies, as I understand, weddings are organised and held in a grand manner as two souls take vows to remain as one forever.
Accordingly, the families involved do a lot of planning and try to invite as many relatives and friends as possible to make the event a memorable one. This is a time when neighbours and families come in as extra hands to share the workload of the family organising the event. For that matter, Hindu weddings are no exception.
Their wedding ceremonies are full of music and cultural items as well as dancing. A Hindu wedding would be incomplete if the music was not there.
It is also a gathering which brings many families and friends together in enjoyment. However, as we all know that this event was prevented from taking place because of COVID-19 and the restrictions that came with it for nearly two years. In this period it was only proper that we listened and obeyed the rules that were formulated to keep us safe.
Our COVID situation was kept under control only through the majority of our citizens’ strict compliance and observation of the protocol laid down.
Of course, there were few who were caught cheating the system for which they have been taken to task. I hope they have learned a lesson and will not break the rules again.
Weddings are now seen coming back as things seem to be normalising as we move on. We’ve attended a number of marriages lately and enjoyed meeting our families and friends after some time.
They too were as delighted as were we. Let’s hope more would-be couples are able to formally get married before anything else happens. I take the opportunity to wish all newly-wedded couples all the best. Also, let the family ties get even stronger. Thank you. SURESH CHAND
Nadi