Ebola Virus
Floyd Robinson, Nasinu
The recurrence of the Ebola virus in some parts of Africa is causing much international concern and renewed efforts to prevent this disease from spreading to other parts of the world.
While we may be far away from the African continent, one realises that we are connected to rest of the world through international flights and travel via the ocean.
Whatever ones views about the virus, let’s just hope that relevant health authorities are keeping this on their radar ‘because it only takes one individual with the virus to enter our nation or the Pacific region before this nightmare becomes reality.
Prevention is better than cure.

GCC debate
Amenatave Yaconisau , Suva
Nothing is more diverting than the ongoing debate about whether the Great Council of Chiefs(GCC)should be abolished or brought back.
I am referring to your article titled “Parties Divided on Council of Chiefs”(FS 2/8/14)
It seems that most political parties have supported the reinstatement of the GCC and FLP being the most vocal stressing that it must be done on the desires and freewill of the indigenous people themselves. British Colonial rulers arrived on this land and they automatically realised the dependence of administering Fijian affairs on the goodwill of chiefs at all levels (village, district, and provincial).
They believed that it was mandatory for the success of their work in Fiji that the central government administrative structure must rely on the traditional system and goodwill of the Fijian people.
They also noted that chiefly influence was the greatest at village and tikina level. The British administration here was a tremendous success by the time they left here in 1970. It was most unfortunate that a few dominant chiefs within the Fijian Administration abused their powers to serve the people and treated the opportunity as a privilege to abuse their status.
This brought great disrepute to the Council of Chiefs as an institution.
Be that as it may, the Prime Minister has insisted that the GCC will not return. It seems the current government would like to deliver their services to the iTaukei outside the traditional system of authority or what the British term “the indirect rule policy”.
Whether iTaukei administration will be delivered better using the government system through the Fijian and provincial administration via committee systems is yet to be seen. One thing is clear from your article is that the current government is quite alone on this issue and could easily be a determining factor in the coming election. Let’s see.

Secular State
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Our country can only qualify to become a fully-fledged secular state if our government can do away with the Sunday ban and open it up like any other normal working business day.
At the same time members of the public are given the freedom to do otherwise on the day because of their belief. This is called their Freedom to Worship as protected in the 2013 Constitution.
Similar to every other state and government that practicessecularism the world over, I can well imagine what positive impact that will greatly have on our current upward economy because Fiji is a free country for all.
Religion is a personal thing between an individual and your God and should not be imposed upon anyone.
From reading the four political parties manifestos SODELPA, FLP, NFP and PDP I notice that none of them have bothered to commit and fund all the costs of running any religious organisations irrespective and to build churches for any approved registered religious denomination. Monetary levies are becoming a burden to very low income earners and the poor of our society.
This will be number one in terms of vote buying and why not as the majority of voters will side with that particular political party.
On the health sector, no past government is on record to have ever succeeded in the implementation of their health reform policies as compared to the Rear Admiral [Retired] Bainimarama government and through the kind gesture of the Republic of China, last week we saw the opening of a new hospital at Namelimeli for the District and the people of Navua. That is a very positive move by our government irrespective of their critics specifically in the SODELPA, FLP, NFP and PDP ranks who have done absolutely nothing constructive whatsoever during the past 08 years for the people of this country.
How can they be trusted with our votes?
It is easier said than done.
Can other political parties include the promise of building hospitals in every district for the people, whether it is on the remotest maritime island or in the interior of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Thumbs up for Rewa
Peggy Thomas, Pacific Harbour
My five-year-old grandson who arrived from Indonesia made our heads swell when he loudly proclaimed that he loves Rewa Butter.
After living in many parts of the world with his mum he thinks Rewa Butter is his favourite.
At this point some readers may think that a five-year-old will not know the difference between butter and margarine.
I kid you not ( no pun intended) this child is very advanced for his age and rather cute putting bias aside.
In any case my husband refuses to eat butter anywhere else in his travels because he is hooked on Rewa Butter needless to say me too and the rest of my family.
I am most definitely not asking for a free supply of butter folks, but only wishing to say keep the good work going Rewa Butter.

Bastille Day
Aman Nath, Suva
On July 14, the French Republic celebrated its 225th anniversary of the revolution that shook the entire fabric of the political, economic and social foundations of the French society.
The “tearing down” of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, the hated symbol of the Ancien Regime, was a dawn of new era and a new beginning that led the way to a bloody decade old revolution that germinated the seeds of modern democracy and fervent nationalism in France.
France had produced influential and great philosophers like Jean Jacques-Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire whose ideals shaped the tenets of the French Revolution.
The establishment of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was a major feat towards the development of a human rights covenant following the overthrow of the absolute monarchy of King Louis XVI.
Liberty, equality and fraternity, the founding pillars of the revolution had been harnessed by the French Republic as it underwent the transformation from a feudalistic society to a modern, secular and liberal democratic state.