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you get what you sow
“I hope my story encourages others to try new things and not give up. There is always a way to make things better.”
This is the view of 58-year-old Asenaca Titikula, whose story is inspiring and fascinating, shared by Mataiasi Stark and The Fiji Times (June 25).
Hard-working farmer Asenaca has made a strong impact on the people of Nakorotiki in Bua, Vanua Levu, with his success in sustainable agricultural methods.
Asenaka is an example of a determined farmer with a great work ethic and drive who has also faced hardships and financial constraints, but farming has kept her on track.
Since she has a steady supply of crops, she sells her produce.
Her story is one of determination, dedication and resilience, values we can all adopt in our lives to combat the rising cost of living.
Asenaca’s story is one of hope and passion.
She is reaping the rewards of her hard work. Not only that, but her success is also benefiting the community.
Her journey is an inspiration.
Thanks to Stark and Fiji Times for the inspiration!
Rajneesh Ishwar Lingam Nadava, Narsingh
Performance-enhancing drugs
Donald Trump says he is willing to take a drug test before the debate.
He can save time because there is no evidence that it improves performance and if he took such drugs he should ask for a refund.
The only performance-enhancing drug most of us are exposed to is coffee, and as I and billions of others have discovered, it’s highly addictive.
Dennis Fitzgerald Melbourne, Australia
Accept failure
Are we ready to accept defeat and swallow our pride at the 2024 Olympic Rugby Sevens?
Our national sevens team is probably our only hope for medals at the moment, especially the men’s sevens team. However, their performances over the past 18 months have been far from convincing.
It will be an interesting match at the 2024 Olympics as all teams aim to stop Fiji from winning a third consecutive gold medal.
All eyes will be on our men but, at this point, I expect our women to do much better in France.
I’d be surprised if we don’t win gold as there were so many changes so quickly and that probably doesn’t bode well for their roster combination. Hopefully the best team wins and let’s take any result from France.
Floyd Robinson Micronesia
Nadi’s Infrastructure
With Fiji’s tourism industry growing steadily and contributing around 40% of GDP to our economy, and several major resort/hotel developments set to come online in about two years, is anyone paying special attention to the wastewater treatment plant in Navakai, Nadi?
Approximately 600 new resort/hotel rooms are under construction. Our Air BnB inventory is also reportedly increasing.
What are the immediate plans for our own dump or waste disposal system? This is long overdue.
Will our water supply increase soon?
Are there plans to significantly increase our water storage capacity?
Some rural communities do not have access to water 24/7. This is sad.
These are pertinent questions that I asked the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, Nadi, as a caring retiree, on the eve of his 2024/2025 National Budget Speech.
Furthermore, the Namaka Police Station requires significant support in terms of infrastructure, equipment and manpower as the current drug problem is placing a huge strain on our hard-working police force. They require immediate attention.
I raise the above issues with great respect… aside from the oft-talked about one-way street issue in Nadi.
RONNIE CHANG Martina (Nadi)
National Prayer
Looking at all the problems Fiji is facing now, crime, drugs, high prices, diseases, natural disasters, broken families etc, it reminds me of the words of our Lord in 2 Chronicles 7:13. “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command locusts to bring down the produce of the land, or if I send pestilence among my people”, it is time to return to our Creator and cry out to Him according to verse 14. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.
As a Christian, I call on all denominations to unite in a national week of fasting and prayer.
Jesus is the answer to all our problems.
Edward Kumar Lautoka
Drug upgrade
Finally, the Ministry of Interior Security officially acknowledged the escalation of illegal drug trafficking as a critical national security issue.
What have they been doing all these years?
I think one of the biggest frustrations is that there seems to be a lot of “workshops” but very little actual action. It’s like building roads without regulation and boundaries.
I think we should have tougher “punishment” laws to combat drug related crimes, not only to jail the offenders, but also to discourage and stop them from thinking of committing crimes. Singapore and Thailand have very strict drug laws and penalties. Foreigners must research these laws before visiting. Not to mention smuggling. Do we have to wait for another “Pacific Records drug case” before we can take action?
Stop relying on others, this is our problem and no one can solve it.
SAMU SILATOLU I’m sorry, I’m sorry
Street Homeless
Fiji Times editorial “Dealing with the street homeless problem” (FT 20/6) It seems that the crisis has been going on for some time.
To be honest, this kind of picture news in the media is not very friendly to Fiji’s tourism industry because we are famous for our warm Fijian welcome smile. Newspapers should show beautiful scenes that promote tourism.
I think the relevant departments should carry out more publicity activities to parents, because parents have the greatest responsibility to monitor their children’s whereabouts.
Creating employment opportunities in agriculture, waterways and other income generating resources will be avenues for the benefit of all Fijians in Fiji.
Charity begins at home, with the discipline of growing children. Parents come first!
Children are our hope.
Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Interested players
Auckland Blues talent Hoskins Sotutu has received a huge boost after missing out on the All Blacks 15-man squad.
I felt for him because he was the top scorer in Super Rugby Pacific along with Crusaders speedster Sevu Reece.
Both scored 12 goals. Sotutu failed to qualify, while Wallace Siti was eliminated. Siti, the son of former Samoan rugby star Semo Siti, made his debut for the Gallagher Chiefs this year and achieved excellent results.
Sotutu’s performance was equally impressive and I don’t know how All Blacks 15-man coach Scott Robertson and the selectors could have missed out on Sotutu, whose father, Waisake Sotutu, is a flying Fijian.
Now I read that Sotutu is considering joining the Fiji Hydroflying Fijians.
I would love to see him in the national team jersey.
I urge the FRU to liaise with Fijian boys who play sport in New Zealand but have not been selected for the national team.
Sadly, Chiefs prodigy Pita Gus Sowakula chose the black jersey over the international jumper, he was selected for the All Blacks but played just two Test matches against Ireland before leaving overseas. This is also something World Rugby should address. Enough of the victimisation!
Rajneesh Ishwar Lingam Nadava, Nasinu
National ID card
The Fijian government recently announced on its Facebook page that it will begin building a so-called “national digital ID” system.
So I would like to ask the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, did they put forward the idea of a National Identity Card by 2022 to the Fijian electorate in their respective party manifestos?
Readers with longer memories may recall that the National Identity Card was a pet project of former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Then, as now, many, if not most, people in Fiji would probably suspect that the previous government’s support for the national ID scheme may have had more to do with their anticipation that such a system could be easily adapted as a Trojan Horse, enabling their pseudo-government to exercise more control, and more easily, over the Fijian people than it then was able to do.
It is therefore somewhat disturbing to see that the current Coalition Government, which is supposed to be the democratic alternative to the authoritarian tendencies of its predecessor, is preparing to draft and enact legislation that could make it easier for any future Liberal Democratic Government to once again run Fiji’s democracy in an authoritarian manner!
More precisely, it is the same potential “dictatorial infrastructure” that is provided to any potential new military coup plotters. Or, when disaster finally strikes the Earth, the same turnkey system that is provided to any original beastly kingdoms of biblical prophecy.
So, given Fiji’s tragic history of coups, and the biblical chilling warning of the impending global unitary dictatorship, one has to wonder if it is wise to develop a state administrative infrastructure for Fiji that will leave the tools of dictatorship “around the corner” for the next Frank Bainimarama or George Speight to pick up and repurpose against the Fijian people, perhaps to stage another coup in Fiji if one of them decides that “the tea leaves look good”?
John Samson Suva
human trafficking
If any Government MP is genuinely interested in addressing the issue of human trafficking in Fiji, please contact the International Justice Mission.
ASISH VINAY PRASAD Raiwasa, Suva
Fiji Airways
Congratulations to Fiji Airways! Fiji Airways has been named the 14th best airline in the world (June 25). I had a comfortable transfer from Auckland to Labasa, with breakfast on board and lunch in Labasa that day. All passengers were given a copy of the Fiji Times to read on board. May Fiji Airways fly higher. Long live Fiji Airways.
Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
National Budget
Budget fine print always highlights the government’s true spending priorities. Will tomorrow’s budget be good for ordinary people? Or will it reek of a government in no hurry to improve the well-being of the Fijian people? Issa!
WISE MUAVONO Barawa, Lautoka
Justifiable cause
Perhaps Blue Water Boxing Promotions could consider donating to another charity: those who suffer brain damage after being “knocked out” in the ring.
FERGUS GARRETT Vatuwaqa Marist Brotherhood
Those checks
Thank you ABIF for listening to us. We are relieved that we are no longer forced to use online banking, remember passwords and mistype account numbers in our later years. If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it.
Daniel Fatiaki Suva
living cost
The cost of living is very high. The Remuneration Commission has recognised this and has recommended adjustments to MPs’ pay. Why can’t MPs do the same for everyone in Fiji? Well, let’s wait for the Budget.
Happy Lion
Labasa Budget Forecast
The country’s citizens, mainly the common people, have great expectations for the upcoming 2024-2025 state budget. Wages are widely expected to increase and the cost of goods and services to decrease. In particular, almost everyone, except the MPs themselves, is against a significant increase in the MPs’ salaries and allowances. One might think that the MPs are simply making sure that they can better understand the economic plight of the common people from a more privileged position.
Dinesh Kumar Ba
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