Thank you

Kirti Patel, Lautoka

I, through this column, would like to thank the current Government for all its effort all this while and all that we will get to observe in coming future.

We have noticed vast differences and the positive impacts.

As for the Minister of Education, thank you for the free education, assistance with the bus fares and the effort made towards the other changes.

Your hard work is very much appreciated.

To the Ministry of Health thank you for outlining the plans and interest for the facilities in health care and the concerns about the migrating health personnel’s for greener pastures.

To other Ministries that I have not mentioned, thank you for all your efforts and I just want to let you know that your work is being observed and recognised.

It’s still a long way to go but this team’s work with dedication will surely lead us to a better tomorrow.

Hoping for the best and wish our leaders all the best as they prosper.

What sport?

Wise Muavono, Lautoka

I love the sport elsewhere but hate it in my own country. When the rest of the world is watching it – the World Cup for instance, I easily join the hype, deck myself in the colour of my chosen second country (usually the tournament favourite), grab a beer or have a tight mix, and jump on the “beautiful game” bandwagon.

Meanwhile, I frown upon the sport when played locally.

Unless there are major changes, it doesn’t take a prophet to predict the future of the sport in Fiji. Guess what the sport is?

Free milk

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi

There have been many correspondences in the past through this column from critics and concerned citizens about the FijiFirst party manifesto and their promise to provide free milk for all Year One children, irrespective of where they attend school and their location.

I personally find it annoying because majority of those critics have failed to understand that this is the first time for our country apart from the many other “Freebees” provided for by this democratically elected Government.

So what’s the hurry? I do hope no Year One child have ended up in hospital for the delay in receiving the milk.

Most are not satisfied and unhappy with the inability of the milk suppliers to provide it on time at the beginning of this year’s school term but they have failed to appreciate that it requires proper planning before implementation in order no child is left out but on the contrary since the 1970 independence, when was the last time a government or political party ever done the same that gives critics the right to be so inconsiderate.

Apart from those many thousands of our Year One students this year, Government must also ensure there is enough supply of milk on supermarket shelves throughout the country for all Fijians and tourists alike.

It is now March, and children enjoy your milk and pray our Government considers the tiny tots of our kindergarten’s come this year’s November Budget.

Nothing is impossible if they have the political will that benefits all Fijians in an honest outright inclusive manner.

Excellent time to lend more support to Fiji Dairy and our hard working dairy milk farmers who toil tirelessly day and night to ensure there is fresh Fijian made milk products available daily.

ACS prefect training

Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Nasinu

It is impressive to read that four Sawani old girls spent one whole day training the 74 prefects of Adi Cakobau School.

We have read of all the different kind of trainings we have in Fiji but this is the first time for me to read of prefects training.

We from the old school do not have any training, we just carry on with how those who led before us and try to do so even better.

Maybe, schools should expect a prefect’s manual soon.

Homeless at home

Floyd Robinson, Nasinu

Are citizens of our beloved nation becoming homeless at home?

One only has to look at the price of homes in major cities like Suva.

Decent homes cost around $200,000 at least.

The price of freehold land is ridiculous.

Majority of locals would struggle to keep up with loan payments, let alone trying to get a loan approved by the banks.

It appears that rich foreigners are throwing hard cash leading real estate agents and owners to demand high, if not unreasonable prices for purchase of homes and land.

Several years ago, locals in Savusavu were not only selling land at ridiculous prices but more importantly were interested in United States of American dollars, not Fiji dollars.

One cannot blame land owners for accepting or demanding high prices but this seriously put locals at a huge disadvantage.

Perhaps, foreigners with big bucks or the elite locals are still in an advantageous position as they have what it takes, big cash.

The average income earner in Fiji is disadvantaged. No wonder more locals are becoming interested in leasing native land as it does not involve high loan payments.

All in all, it looks like average income earners are becoming homeless at home as it’s almost impossible to buy pieces of freehold land and or land with homes.

Matanigasau

Amenatave Yaconisau, Suva

The matanigasau accorded to the Minister for Education by the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA),  (FS 4/3) is appreciated, but this should not be interpreted as an acceptance of the ‘muscling’ going on at the ministry.

The association should be more concerned of the evaluation, negotiation and proposal of better teacher remuneration and other terms and condition of service for members and teachers generally.

This should include the quality of teachers’ quarters and school facilities.

The ministry is charged with the delivery of the best education this country can provide to rural and maritime schools as it does to any other schools.

They have had a low pass rate recently and should be “staffed to the teeth” with the best teachers that the ministry can provide.

Not teachers who are disillusioned with 50 per cent pay reduction all in the name of employing others but are expected to perform.

A situation may turn very serious if the present proposals for the evaluation are not engaged.

Sports awards

Sukha Singh, Labasa

Was wondering why Roy Krishna, Fiji’s latest million dollar soccer player, was not nominated for the recent Sports Awards?