School teacher says classes would resume as normal today despite damage to dormitory building.

Quick action by members of the com­munity and National Fire Authority personnel helped contain a fire from destroying a nearby mosque at the Islamic Institute in Sabeto yesterday.

Teachers from the institute thanked mem­bers of the community for their quick ac­tion to pull out machines and save white goods from the building.

Two fire trucks from the Nadi Fire Station were at the scene to douse the fire, with wa­ter carting trucks delivering water also.

A teacher at the institute, Shofeed Ali, said classes would resume as normal today de­spite damage to dormitory building.

He was at the school compound when the incident occured.

“I went to pick up my child from the prima­ry school and on my return I saw the flames coming out of the dormitory building,” Mr Ali said.

“The institute just opened for classes today (yesterday) with 10 to 12 students, but they all managed to escape.

“Members of the community and the NFA also came to the rescue.”

He added classes would not be interrupted despite the incident completely destroying the two-storey dormitory building.

“For the time being we will do a temporary dormitory for them, maybe we will join all the classes in one,” the teacher said.

A statement obtained from Police said: “The Islamic Institute School in Sabeto caught fire and flames were spreading to the Mosque, but the quick action by the au­thorities managed to control the blaze from spreading.

“Police were at the fire scene to continue their investigations.”

Meanwhile, the Fiji Muslim League ex­ecutive members were on site to assess the damage. Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

Raralevu system sees boost in water supply; district metered areas (DMA) of Nausori and Rewa Deltas restored.

The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) has successfully com­pleted the cut-in works to in­stall the cross-connection valves as part of the ‘Waila Water Treat­ment Plant – Duilomaloma Road DN375 Trunk Main duplication Project’.

WAF general manager customer services and acting general man­ager operations, Sekove Uluinayau, said the cut-in works were all car­ried out as scheduled.

“As part of this water shutdown at Waila, the two major cut-in works were carried out at the Waila Water Treatment Plant and Duilomaloma Road,” Mr Uluinayau said.

“WAF also undertook improve­ment works during the shutdown period by undertaking pipeline realignment works at the Raralevu Reservoir as well as an additional six sites where cut-in works were also carried out at the following areas: Burebasaga, Vuci Road, Nau­sori Airport, Taci, Suvalailai, and Natogadravu.”

Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) crew members at a cut-in site at the Waila Water Treatment on January 13, 2019. Photo: WAF

Additional works will have to be undertaken this week to realign a section of the DN375 Waila-Rara­levu by-pass pipeline at the Waila Water Treatment Plant.

“These works will be carried out later this week, but it will not re­quire a water shutdown,” Mr Ului­nayau confirmed.

“To better monitor flow, water pressure levels and collate data, we also installed a total of 12 flow me­ters at various strategic locations within the Raralevu Water Supply reticulation system.”

He reiterated that the purpose of the works was to boost water sup­ply into the Raralevu system, which they anticipate would provide bet­ter services to their customers.

“WAF crew members have been working around the clock to re­fill the 100 water tanks, which are strategically placed in nearly all villagers and communities,” Mr Ul­uinayau said.

“Additionally, we have a total of 30 water carting trucks that have been deployed to refill these water tanks and to cart water to customers.”

He thanked the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly during the weekend “for their hard work and commitment during the water shut­down conducting cut-in works and installations as well as water cart­ing services.”

Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) general manager customer services and acting general manager operations Sekove Uluinayau
(standing right), team leader SCADA Thomas Hughes and regional manager central eastern, Ilisoni Saladuadua, during a briefing at the Waila Water Shutdown Control Centre at the Waila Water Treatment Plant on January 13, 2019. Photo: WAF

Mr Uluinayau also thanked the many customers in the Nausori and Rewa Deltas who took heed of the disruption notices and alerts and stored their back-up water sup­ply in their homes.

Meanwhile, water supply has been restored to majority of the areas in the district metered areas (DMA) within the Raralevu water supply system. This includes all affected areas in Nausori and the Rewa Del­tas.

“As of yesterday morning, 90 per cent of affected areas in Nausori had water supply restored,” he said.

“All low-lying areas should have water supply restored and WAF crew members are working hard to get the remaining elevated areas re­stored at a 100 per cent.

“In the meantime, WAF crew members are carrying out flushing works to bleed the water pipeline to eliminate any trapped air. The teams are also conducting valve op­erations, which are all part of the water restoration process.”

Customers are to contact the au­thority’s National Contact Centre on 1507 or email waterhelp@waf.com.fj for any clarification or water carting assistance. Source: WAF

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

Market vendors in Labasa blocking the marked load­ing and offloading zones have been told to use the vacant space made available to them at the other end of the market.

The Minister for Local Govern­ment, Premila Kumar, in wrapping up her visit in the Northern Divi­sion, told Fiji Sun she saw first-hand how such actions by the Labasa Mar­ket vendors had compromised their own safety and those using the road.

Currently, this marked zone is be­ing blocked by vendors selling along the footpath, which has become more of an obstruction.

In raising her concerns, Ms Ku­mar said: “While we have a vacant market at the back from Monday to Thursday these vendors can occupy that space instead of blocking the loading and offloading zone, plus the street.

“There are certain rules to be fol­lowed otherwise anyone can put their structure and start selling.

“This visit was more of a familiari­sation one and during this time we were able to meet various stakehold­ers, including the market vendors. I was able to have discussion with them and hear their grievousness.

“And also make them understand that the council will provide loading and off-loading zones.”

The minister also made a courtesy call at the Savusavu Town Council office and met ratepayers and the business community.

“I simply wanted to see how they see Savusavu, how they want to see it in next 10 years, hear some of the concerns they had about Savusavu and how we can collectively improve service delivery of Savusavu Town Council,” she said.

“I had informed them about the ease of business and some of re­forms in the ministry of local Gov­ernment and why it is needed. It was more about information sharing in Savusavu.”

During the meeting she heard from faithful ratepayers how disap­pointed they were about non-paying ratepayers. There was also a request made for quality water and a proper garbage dump site.

“The good news is the Department of Environment, together with the Ministry of Local Government, are looking at different sites and they ac­tually have identified one,” the min­ister said.

“Now it’s just the question of ne­gotiation with landowners and car­rying out the rest of the work after this.”

Meanwhile, both municipalities, she confirmed, were spared by Tropi­cal Cyclone Mona. Ms Kumar is also the Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Housing and Community Development. Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

The right to religious orientation is not under threat because this is protected by the Constitution.

The call for faith-based schools to be led by principals of that particular faith will en­courage racial profiling based not only on faith but other prohibited grounds of discrimination.

This was the summation by Hu­man Rights and Anti-Discrimina­tion Commission (HRADC) direc­tor Ashwin Raj.

This comes after the head of Ro­man Catholic Church in Fiji Arch­bishop Peter Loy Chong had asked the Ministry of Education to recon­sider having members of the faith to head its schools.

In a letter written to the Minister of Education Rosy Akbar dated January 11th, he also requested that faith be an element of the Open Merit Recruitment Selection System (OMRSS).

In response to the request made by the Archbishop, Mr Raj said this was contrary to the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

“Soon there will be calls to have schools to be led by individuals from a particular ethnic com­munity or indeed teachers of a preferred race or religion,” he said.

“The right to religious orientation is not under threat because this is protected by the Constitution.”

He added it would oppress multi­culturalism, tolerance and diversi­ty that children should be encour­aged to practice.

“Last year the commission in­vestigated a complaint by a high school student who was told by the principal and management of the school she was attending to look for a school that “accommo­dated students of her kind” because she was wearing a headscarf,” Mr Raj said.

“This was consist­ent with her faith but deemed contrary to the dress code of the school.”

Mr Raj also opposed the Archbishop’s request on the inclu­sion of faith into the OMRS policy.

“This is not only problematic because “faith” is arbitrary and subjective in nature, but its inclu­sion will only give credence to discrimi­nation,” he said.

“The OMRS was intro­duced precisely to ensure that the most meritori­ous person was selected for the job and not be­cause of their race, religion, eth­nicity, gender or other prohibited grounds of discrimination.”

Mr Raj questioned whether Fiji was reverting to the old policy of af­firmative action by giving into the call to include faith into the Open Merit Recruitment System.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback: neelam.prasad@fijisun.com.fj

Asinate Serevi wants to play sevens rugby like her father.

She is the daughter of sevens rugby legend, Waisale Serevi, and resides in Seattle, USA.

The Qarani, Gau native will play for the US-based Scion womens side in the McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens on Thursday and Friday.

“I grew up in a rugby family and want to play the sport like my dad,”Asinate said.

“I’ve represented USA before and we have some new girls in this tour.

“I have never played in the Coral Coast Sevens but I trained with the Striders team last week.”

She will team up with another Fijian Bui Baravilala who plays first five-eighth or   halfback.

Her dad, Etuate Baravilala hails from Nakaselaka, Kadavu and worked for Polynesian Cultural Centre in Hawaii while her mother, Mereoni, is from Vanuavatu, Lau  attending Brigham Young University.

“I love rugby like my and dad.  Rugby is in the blood and I am excited to here and to play as well,” she said.

She made her debut for USA in 2012 and was part of the USA Rio Olympic Games 7s team.

-Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  mereleki.nai@fijisun.com.fj

Bryan Habana believes the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team is in good hands.

The former Springboks wing was impressed with how the Gareth Baber-coached side took part in the first cluster of the World Sevens Series. The Fijians lost to USA in the Cup quarterfinal in Dubai but managed to beat the Mike Friday-coached side in the Cup final in Cape Town.

“In the first two tournaments, the Fijians were really dominant even though US was the number one team in the world,”Habana said.

“I think Fiji is in good hands.”

The 2007 World Rugby player of the year is impressed with the way Fijians play the abbreviated code.

He was fortunate to play with Josua Tuisova, a member of the 2106 Rio Olympics gold medal winning team, for Toulon in Top 14 competition in France.

“I played with Tuisova and other Fijians in France. When they are off the field they are amazing, on the field they show the level of skills that is literally unreal.

“I have played against Fijians a few times. I think the level of skills these guys literally have is fantastic.”

Habana was excited to be the chief guest at the 2019 Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.

“This is my first experience in Fiji and it is going to a fantastic one.

“I am really excited to part of the tournament this week. I have a couple of plans, a couple of Safari and couple of tours.

“I have heard a lot of things about the Sigatoka Safari and they really put a lot of plans for us. I think this is an opportunity to explore and experience the landscape around Fiji, meet more of the people and the true Fiji.

“We only see Fiji rugby players on TV and it is going to be exciting to experience Fiji with my family. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and for that I am really grateful.”

The 2019 McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens starts tomorrow with the Uprising Youth Sevens competition.

-Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  mereleki.nai@fijisun.com.fj

London: Fiji Airways Flying Fijians Alivereti  Doviverata and Albert Tuisue made a winning debut for London Irish yesterday.

The Exiles battled to a bonus-point 47-12 victory over a valiant Richmond outfit to extend their lead at the top of the Greene King IPA Championship with 49 points after round 11.

Veitokani started at fullback and played throughout while Tuisue came in the 65th minute and instantly made an impact.

The Fijian international delivered a substantial tackle, followed by a clever turnover to give the supporters a taste of things to come at Madejski Stadium.

The Exiles are on track to be promoted to Premiership Rugby while the Newcastle Falcons which has Flying Fijians Vereniki Goneva, Tevita Cavubati, Nemani Nagusa and Josh Matavesi are likely to face relegation. The Falcons are 12th on standings after round 12 with 17 points.

Matavesi scores for Pirates

Flying Fijians hooker Sam Matavesi scored a try for Cornish Pirates but it was not enough as they lost to Yorkshire Carnegie 13-18.

And halfback Henry Seniloli came off the bench to help Doncaster Knights beat Coventry 23-17.

-edited by Sheldon Chanel

Feedback:  oseab@fijisun.com.fj

The Natasha Olson-Thorne captained Hong Kong’s side wants to tackle the best women teams in the country.

The team will take part in McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens women competition which starts at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka on Thursday.

“We are really happy to be here again and it would be a great exposure up against teams playing different style of rugby which we play in Asia,” she said.

“We want to tackle the best teams in the country.”

The last year’s runner-up is the top seed in Pool F with Scion (USA), Fiji Airports Nadi Aviators and Hope RC.

“It is very important for us to keep our structure, system, focus and keep it simple,” she added.

“We played in the final last year and we hope to replicate that this year. We have a few survivors and four new players in the team too.”

The four new players include Maelle Picat, Sarah Lucas, Amy Pyle and Jessica Eden.

The team will be playing the qualifiers for the core team of the World Rugby Women Sevens Series during the Hong Kong 7s in April.

Pool E: Striders, Stars USA, Walkyries, and Fiji Airport Nadi Blazers.

Pool F:  Hong Kong, Scion (USA), Fiji Airports Nadi Aviators, Hope RC.

Pool G: Fijiana, Marist Seahawks, Lautoka Crusaders and Outrigger Knights.

-Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  waisean@fijisun.com.fj

The USA-based Scion 7s team aim to win the women division of the McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka.

The women will battle for the Crest Na Iri Trophy on Thursday and Friday.

The side is co-captained by Maggie Myles and Jade McGrath under the watchful eyes of coaches Toshi Palamo, Tretton Palamo and Joanne Liu.

Myles said, “We are here definitely to win and have fun. We have a good group of girls and we are excited to be part of this tournament.”

This side also features Fijians Asinate Serevi, daughter of sevens rugby legend Waisale Serevi and Bui Baravilala.

“Playing in this new environment is beautiful.  It is exciting as we have a big crew coming with us so we are really happy to be part of this tournament,” she added

“We have couple of girls from all over the USA but our team is based out of Washington DC.”

The side is in Pool F with Hong Kong, Fiji Airports Nadi Aviators and Hope RC.

-Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  waisean@fijisun.com.fj

The Suva Football Association has secured the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) of a top Solomon Island international for the new season.

It will come as good news for the Suva fans who have been concerned about other districts poaching some of their top players in the January Transfer Window.

Suva suspended want-away players, Napolioni Qasevakatini, Laisenia Raura and Antonio Tuivuna over the weekend for allegedly not attending training.

But the move was widely seen as an attempt by Suva to stop the three from leaving.

Tuivuna and Qasevakatini are seeking moves away to Labasa, while Raura has been heavily linked with a return to Ba.

There is also news from the Western Division involving giants Ba and Lautoka, both preparing for next month’s OFC Champions League.

In this column, SUNsports looks at all the latest news and gossip on player movements around the country.

GAGAME FENI: Hawkes Bay to Suva

After coping some blows in the transfer window, Suva have gone on the attack and signed a top player of their own.

Feni previously played his football for Havelock North Wanderers in Hawke’s Bay, in New Zealand’s second-tier league.

Known for his versatility, the Solomon Island winger should easily fit into Suva’s attack.

The 27-year-old has also played in the OFC Champions League and will attempt to help Suva reach the competition themselves this season.

SITIVENI CAVUILAGI and SIMIONE NABENU: Ba to Lautoka

It is rumoured the Ba duo recently visited Lautoka’s camp, in efforts to secure a deal in the new window.

Defensive midfielder Cavuilagi has largely been kept on the bench this season by Narendra Rao, one of Fiji’s best players in that position.

The 18-year-old Nabenu emerged at senior level for Ba in their recent Champion versus Champion Series win against Lautoka.

The forward has a wealth of talent but lacks the experience to be a starter for any senior team.

RUSIATE MATEREREGA: Nadi to Labasa

Labasa is said to be interested in adding the Nadi striker to their squad in 2019.

The transfer will depend on whether the Northerners are successful with landing Qasevakatini from Suva.

Matererega is said to be the alternative if Qasevakatini, who has been suspended by Suva, doesn’t come through.

The word from Labasa is that Johan Leewai is prepared to wait till the very last day of the Transfer Window to secure either Qasevakatini or Matererega.

The Babasiga Lions have already signed Ravinesh Karan Singh from Suva and are also awaiting word on the suspended Tuivuna.

-Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  sheldon.chanel@fijisun.com.fj

A 31-year-old employee of Fiji TV appeared at the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.

Joshua Dobui Lal, who is charged with one count of driv­ing a motor vehicle while there is present in the blood a concentra­tion of alcohol in excess of the prescribed limit, appeared before Magistrate Deepika Prakash.

It is alleged, that on September 9th, 2018, at Rewa Street, in Suva, there was present in 100 millili­tres of his blood a concentration of 156.2 milligrams of alcohol, which is in excess of the pre­scribed limit.

He had pleaded guilty to the of­fence on his own free will.

In his mitigation, Lal said he was an employee of Fiji TV and he also acknowledged what had happened was wrong.

He also sought for a second chance in order to keep his job and support his elderly parents.

Magistrate Prakash fined the ac­cused of $300 to be paid in 30 days.

She also ordered the accused that if in default of the payment, 30 days imprisonment penalty will apply.

Magistrate Prakash also ordered the accused to surrender his driver’s licence to the court and suspended his licence for three months.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj

A 30-year-old man of Suva, who had caused the death of Tarusila Laveta last Friday, has been remanded by the Suva Magistrates Court.

Sivorosi Naisevu appeared be­fore Magistrate Liyanage Wickra­masekara yesterday.

He is charged with one count each of dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasion­ing grievous bodily harm and dan­gerous driving.

For the count of dangerous driv­ing occasioning death, it is alleged that on January 11, 2019, in Suva, Naisevu drove a motor vehicle along Fletcher Road in Vatuwaqa, in a manner dangerous to another per­son, was involved in an impact oc­casioning death of Tarusila Laveta.

For the count of dangerous driv­ing occasioning grievous bodily harm, it is alleged that on January 11, 2019, in Suva, Naisevu drove a motor vehicle along Fletcher Road, Vatuwaqa, and was involved in an impact, occasioning grievous bod­ily harm to another namely Josefa Bogidrau Tabua.

For the count of dangerous driv­ing, it is alleged that on January 11, 2019, in Suva, Naisevu drove a motor vehicle along Fletcher Road, Vatu­waqa, in a manner dangerous to the public having regards to all circum­stances of the case.

Police prosecutor Raymond Filipe had served full phase disclosures to the accused.

The accused opted for legal aid rep­resentation.

Magistrate Wickramasekara had granted bail to the accused on the personal fresh bail bond of $2000 and one surety bond of $2000.

Magistrate Wickramasekara also ordered the accused not to reoffend while on bail, not to interfere with any of the prosecution witnesses and not to change his residential ad­dress without the leave of the court.

The matter was transferred to Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa’s court and was adjourned for mention to March 7.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj

While sitting in a taxi parked at Foster Road adjacent to Suva Corrections Centre Prison, Doughty threw a pink colored parcel inside the corrections facility compound, which was later found to contain 5.1 grams of cannabis sativa, an illicit drug.

A 29-year-old woman of Suva has been fined $300 for drug related offence yesterday.

Linda Doughty was charged for one count of possession of illicit drugs. She was convicted and sentenced by Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama yesterday.

On April 29, 2017, while sitting in a taxi parked at Foster Road adjacent to Suva Corrections Centre, Dough­ty threw a pink colored parcel inside the corrections facility compound, which was later found to contain 5.1 grams of cannabis sativa, an illicit drug.

Doughty pleaded guilty to the of­fence on her own free will.

Magistrate Bodaragama said: “In line with the rationale of the judi­cial pronouncement, objectives of sentencing as mandated in the sen­tencing and penalties act and na­ture of the offence, I hold that a fine would be sufficient punishment for you in this instance.”

Doughty was fined $300 for the of­fence and was given 30 days to pay.

She was also told that in default of the payment, she would have to serve a term of 30 days.

She was given 28 days to appeal to the High Court of Fiji.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj

A Suva man charged with theft appeared before Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama at the Suva Magis­trates Court yesterday.

Imtiaz Ali Buksh charged with one count each of fraudulent fal­sification of accounts, conversion and theft.

For the first count, it is alleged that Buksh, between November 23, 2015 and December 29, 2016, in Suva, while being employed as the accounts clerk for Future For­est Fiji Limited willfully altered the company cheques number 4895, 4973, 4997, 5043, 5123, 5020, 5140, 5155 and 4866 with the inten­tion to defraud the said Future Forest Fiji Limited.

For the second count, it is al­leged that Buksh, between the same timeframe, being entrusted as the accounts clerk of Future Forest Fiji Limited with the com­pany cheques number 4895, 4997, 5020, 5043, 5123, 5140, 5155, and 4866 to make payments to Fiji National Provident Fund, fraudu­lently converted the said cheques valued at $33,375.79 to his own use.

For the third count, it is alleged that Buksh, between the same timeframe, dishonestly appropri­ated the ANZ bank cheques 4895, 4973, 4997, 5020, 5043, 5123, 5140, 5155 and 4866, the property of Future Forest Fiji Limited to the total value of $33,375.79 with the intention to permanently deprive the said Future Forest Fiji Lim­ited.

Buksh pleaded not guilty to all three counts as charged.

The matter was adjourned to fix a hearing date to July 27.

The accused’s bail was extended.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj

A man charged for aggravat­ed burglary will appear at the High Court in Suva on January 25.

Usaia Delai charged with one count each of aggravated bur­glary and theft appeared before Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama yesterday.

It is alleged that Delai, between December 25 and 26, 2018, in Wailoku, Suva, entered into the property of Wilsa Vula with the intention to commit theft.

It is also alleged that between the same timeframe, Delai, dis­honestly appropriated (stole) one 40-inch Simmons flat screen TV valued at $899, one external hard drive valued at $350, one Nike brand canvas valued at $120, one men’s snickers valued at $30, one Adidas canvas valued at $139, one cooking pot valued at $50, and $140 cash, all to the total value of $1728, the property of Wailsa Vula with the intention to permanently de­prive the complainant of his prop­erties.

Magistrate Bodaragama said the offence was an indictable offence and had transferred the matter to the High Court of Suva.

The accused was further re­manded in custody.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj

The Fiji Sugar Corporation chief executive officer Graham Clark did not mince his words when he asked cane farmers in Rakiraki and other indus­try stakeholders to start thinking radically.

Not in a sense of real extreme, but in a way of making some tough decisions which may not go with what has always been “the flow”.

Speaking to cane farmers in Rakiraki yesterday during the Sugarcane Growers Consultation on National Sugar Industry Policy at the Penang Mill, Mr Clark suggested some radical thinking towards:

• Getting rid of labour problems like Mauritius did where they hired laborers from Bangladesh
• Re-building the rail system from Rakiraki to Ba to lower costs from $30 a tonne for carting cost to around $6 per tonne
• Suggesting the setting up of block farms where the costs are shared and the burden becomes less on in­dividual farmers
• Luring IT people into cane farming with the lat­est in farming technology
• The creation of special loading zones for sugar cane where the quality of the cane is preserved

Cane farmers need to move away from the traditional thinking of managing cane farms because the bottom line is that escalating costs will close individual farmers down.

The age of technology has been here for some time, but farmers seem afraid to embrace new methods which will, at the end of the day, put more money in their pockets.

Mr Clark and the FSC chairman Vishnu Mohan have travelled the world, in their own fields before combining their experience at FSC and they, among any right now in the industry should know a lot more.

The example of one person managing a 10,000 hecatre farm in the United States with a computer as his guide is really beyond belief in Fiji.

Local farmers would think this was impossible but in this day and age the sky is the limit.

Cane farmers, and all farmers for that matter should seriously look at technology.

Imagine the computer telling you how much fertiliser to use and in which area on your farm may need it more than other areas.

This is definitely going to lower your costs for fertilis­ers as you may not have to use it unwisely.

Imagine your irrigation system being controlled by the computer when it realises through data that the farm needs to be irrigated.

Farmers would have more time in looking into other personal business or concentrate more and build their subsistence farming.

The need to change this mindset is a must and farm­ers must make the decision to jump on the bandwagon or miss out altogether.

Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj

 Fiji Times ignore PM

Izek Lal, Acting Director Information

The Department of Information would like to respond to Naca Nabu­kavou’s letter (Fiji Times, Saturday January 12, 2019).

Mr Nabukavou made the claim that the Fijian public had not heard the Honourable Prime Minister address the Fijian people from Christmas un­til January 12, 2019.

In reality, the Prime Minister record­ed and released a New Year message to the nation on December 31, 2018 wish­ing all Fijians well in 2019.

Both FBC and Fiji TV aired the Prime Minister’s New Year message before the evening news on January 1, 2019.

The Hon Prime Minister’s message was also printed in full on Page 3 of the Fiji Sun on January 1, 2019 and a news article based on his message was prominently posted on the Fiji Village website.

The Prime Minister’s New Year mes­sage was flatly ignored by the Fiji Times, giving its readership, includ­ing Mr Nabukavu, the false impres­sion that the Honourable Prime Min­ister had not addressed the Fijian public since Christmas.

It is a serious lapse that a major na­tional address from Prime Minister Bainimarama received no coverage in the Fiji Times.

However, it is not surprising, given the long string of one-sided and unfair reporting from your newspaper.

Moving forward, we would hope that any national address from the Head of Government be given the news at­tention it warrants, because every Fi­jian rightly deserves to hear from our Prime Minister.

Fiji Police Force

Simon Hazelman, Savusavu

At a thanksgiving church service on Sunday at the Police Special Re­sponse Unit in Nasinu Police Com­missioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho commended all Fijians for the achievements of the Fiji Police Force through 2018.

It’s a great thing that our Police Commissioner is encouraging public co-operation and working towards strengthening trust between police and the public.

There is indeed a great need to in­crease public co-operation and sup­port for our Police force.

Many still view our Police Force as biased and unjust and are less likely to report crimes in fear of victimisation.

It is extremely important that our Police treat citizens fairly and impar­tially.

This will bolster shared morals be­tween the community and the force and enhance beliefs concerning Police legitimacy.

We need to live in a society, where, if we see or have knowledge of an indi­vidual or a group of people breaking the law, we need to be able to make a report to the Police without fear.

We all need to understand the impor­tance of making the decision to report crimes and the effects that it will have on our society.

We must also bear in mind that refus­ing to assist our Police Force is an of­fence in itself.

At the end of the day, our Police Force needs our support as much as we need them to do their job of protecting us and our property.

Mangrove forests

Tomasi Boginiso, Nepani Road

Mangrove forests can save lives in tropical storms. Studies have revealed that mangroves protect coastlines by reducing waves’ power.

In the Philippines 70 per cent of Man­groves have been cut down that’s the reason why a 2013 tsunami killed 6000 plus people there.

Where mangroves remained ,the trees save our coast and its people.

We have to start replanting the man­groves to help save our coast in the future storms and further erosion to our coast.

We need mangroves not only for our protection, but it provides some Fijian delicacy that is very mouth watering.

Let’s start planting more mangrove for the future.

Faith-based schools

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Namaka, Nadi

Let us face it, not all students who at­tend Catholic, Methodist, Muslim and Hindu faith-based schools around the country belong to that faith.

Look around you and you will notice that the PTA’s in these institutions are a mixture of Fijians with different re­ligious backgrounds.

The schools management is not in a position to enforce their religious activities on any student who does be­long to the faith.

And so should the appointments of its teachers.

But why do they have to specifically request that it should apply to their school principals only when other teachers in the school belongs to dif­ferent faiths where I personally feel that is a double standard.

It should be all about service delivery with the best teachers who can do the job in safeguarding the welfare of the students which is the priority.

I believe those schools should now start contemplating turning their faith-based properties to run privately like the Nadi and Suva International Schools and there is nothing absolute­ly wrong with it.

They employ and run their schools with a very special fee and do not rely on any handouts or assistance from our Ministry of Education.

They run it as a business where they attract many highly qualified Fijian teachers from different religious back­grounds but are neutral schools.

I personally feel Archbishop Peter Loy Chong of the Catholic faith in­cluding the President of the Method­ist Church in Fiji Reverend Epineri Vakadewavosa, should now imme­diately stop accepting the millions worth of three School Terms Grants to all their primary and secondary schools throughout the country.

They should then turn them into privately run-owned institutions and that would be the solution gentlemen.

It is called putting your money where your mouth is.

They can pick and choose teachers from their preference of colour, race, and religion, they can pay them ac­cordingly where it will solve the issue full stop and very simply put that’s is called “Putting your Money and Be­lief where your Mouth is”.

I guess the SODELPA gang will take note of this issue and will make it a political football come our 2022 na­tional elections very similar to their promise of no contracts for all civil servants including teachers and mu­nicipal elections during the 2018 elec­tion campaign.

Roy’s class

Pranil Ram , Votualevu, Nadi

Roy Krishna has certainly proven that he is one of the finest football players in the Pacific. I cannot recall anybody else who has achieved a simi­lar feat.

It would be wonderful to see him playing in the big league in Europe. He is probably the best footballer out of Fiji of all time.

I know many aspiring and current footballers in our country would cer­tainly like to emulate him.

He is also the club’s highest goal scorer. With the recent performance he was able to send his club support­ers and followers to a new level of eu­phoria.

Our Fijian players still have a lot to learn from Roy, especially in terms of discipline.

He is also second on the overall goal scoring list. I am sure with this kind of performance he has started estab­lishing a legacy.

Certainly a legend in the making with the magnitude of his achieve­ment.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

Heavy rain caused flash flooding at Urata, Labasa at around 4 pm today.

When a Fiji Sun arrived at the scene two hour later, bus passengers and residents were stranded, unable to reach their homes.

Dhiraj Lal runs  a diary shop in Urata. He said this has been ongoing for so many years.

Vijendra Niwash, 49, a Urata resident said this has been an on going issue especially when it rains heavily.

“We just have to wait at a house nearby and when the water recedes then we go back home.”

Shivan Kumar, a bus driver of Dalip Chand and Son Limited said he has no choice but to wait for the crossing to be cleared so that he can take the bus home.

Low tide is at 7.42pm. Water is expected to recede by then.

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) will select  6 candidates to train at the prestigious United States Military Academy West Point.

West Point is one of the best undergraduate colleges in the US. The US Military Academy at West Point’s mission is to “educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer.”

In its advertisement, the RFMF seeks to recruit young, dynamic and capable young men and women to join the RFMF Officer Corp.

Candidates must meet the following basic eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 17 but not older than 21 on 1st July 2019
• Must score a minimum of 300 marks in English plus best 3 subjects in FSLC/FSFE for 2018 secondary school leavers. Must score 85 per cent or above in English
• Must have a minimum GPA of 4.0 and above for tertiary students. Have good written and oral communication skills
• Be a Fiji citizen
• Must be single
• Must Not be legally responsible for child support
• Minimum height of 170cm
• Must be physically and medically fit
• Be able to swim
• No criminal record
Interested applicants are to appear in person at the RFMF Officers’ Training School, Viria Road East, Vatuwaqa, Suva with a copy of the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• certified copies of academic transcripts
• certified copies of birth certificate
• a minimum of 2 references
• a valid Identification card (Voter ID card, Driver’s License, Passport or joint FNPF/FIRCA card)

Date: Thursday, 31 January, 2019.
Time: 0800h – 1600h.

Police are still investigating the murder of 22-year-old Rayna Prasad last month.

Her partially burnt body was found on December 24, 2018, by a farmer who was going to his plantation in Muanikau Road, Nasese.

Her father identified his daughter by her toes and her hand because her face was badly burnt beyond recognition.

Police earlier questioned two suspects and are still continuing investigations.

Edited by Susana Tuilau

Feedback:  ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj