Back to work

YESTERDAY thousands of Fijians headed back to work. This is an important part of the cycle that keeps our economy churning.

Surely, for many Fijians, the festive mood was difficult to shrug off as they headed back to work.

Understandably, some of us lacked motivation and the enthusiasm to get back to work.

The long weekend would have been lapped up to the brim. In fact it has sort of become a tradition for Fijians to enjoy the festivities.

The weekend and subsequent two-day holiday provided many families an opportunity to do work around the home, grab some quality family time, savour the joys of Christmas, and embrace the meaning and value of the special day.

It would have inched out some semblance of order in their lives, providing some hope perhaps, and meaning to the message of Christmas.

Getting back to work is important not only for each one of us as individuals but for the nation.

What we do today is important for our country.

After an extra long weekend, and following days of rest and recuperation, and fun for many, we must focus now and do our little bit for our nation.

When we do that, we aid in the overall effort to keep our economy rolling.

There will be thousands of people who are looking forward to another looming holiday at the end of this week.

There are a number of days left before we reach the end of the year.

Surely many of us enjoyed the Christmas break. There were many others who were struggling to make ends meet. Some did not have enough to eat and some had no roof they could call their own over their heads.

There were many men and women at work over this period, making sure the rest of us were able to enjoy the holidays.

They will be at it again this week when we greet the

New Year.

They deserve our gratitude and acknowledgement. To members of the security forces on duty, security guards, corrections service, journalists, hotel staff, all those who work in our hospitals and health centres around the country, LTA staff, supermarket cashiers and staff, and everyone else who could not take a day off over Christmas and Boxing Day, we say thank you for your service and commitment. They provide selfless service from the heart.

Perhaps, today, we could try to heed advice and also consider some important issues raised this year such as those concerning our health, road safety and water safety to name a few.

They were raised to help us improve our lives.

Let us renew our commitment to live a happy and healthy life. Let’s remind ourselves that accidents happen because we allow them to.

As we anticipate another fun-filled weekend at the end of another working week, let’s try to focus on work today.

■ of no-confidence in the coalition government. Only that scenario could put him into the government side within six months may be.

A hole in the ship and a mole in the coalition will bear the same result – both are capable of sinking the ship. I sincerely hope our honourable PM would be able to identity and fix it so that his ship stays afloat for long. I reiterate – accept defeat and move on, please!

DINESH KUMAR

Ba