Letters to the Editor | February 9, 2025 - Voice of Asia - Telling Stories from Asia to the World!

Regarding the "stern warning" issued only after the government vehicle accident, a reader pointed out that the supervision and enforcement of drivers' behavior should have been strengthened from the beginning. The action now seems to suggest some negligence in their duties.

Concerning the free education policy, a reader commented that, on one hand, the Minister of Education claims the government provides free education, yet many children are still out of school; on the other hand, a 10-year-old child was forced to walk home due to insufficient balance on their bus card, facing safety risks. This reveals that bus card top-up issues are a contributing factor to children dropping out of school, and also reflects problems with the new bus card system; if receipts were provided, parents could keep track of the card balance in a timely manner.

Regarding the report on "rogue officials," a reader believes that, judging from the large number of current government ministers being investigated by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), and the controversy surrounding the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner, the Fiji Police Force is not the only institution with problems.

A reader believes that all workers should join unions to protect themselves from unfair treatment by employers.

Regarding the retirement age and free bus card policy, a reader appealed to the Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to show compassion for the elderly and restore the age limit for free bus cards to 60, consistent with the retirement age.

Regarding the issue of $400 million in untaxed income in the transportation industry, a reader suggested introducing ride-hailing software similar to Uber or Grab, which can automatically deduct taxes from each fare, thereby bringing the industry into the tax system and alleviating public demand for taxis.

A reader expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for condemning the leaking of Lynda Tabuya's private video and called for the perpetrators to be punished by law. At the same time, the reader also urged some people to moderate their language and approach issues with compassion and humanity, emphasizing that citizens and voters have a responsibility to uphold democracy and media freedom.

A reader called on the government to focus on the important issues facing the country, such as the deteriorating healthcare system and poverty. Even a weekly wage of FJD 200 is still below the poverty line. Only when wise people make wise decisions can the lives of all Fijians be improved.

Regarding BAT Fiji's purchase of electric vehicles, a reader pointed out that the company earns huge profits by producing cigarettes, but at the same time participates in actions to reduce carbon emissions, which seems contradictory. This may be a case of "greenwashing," where a company focuses on a single positive environmental action to mask the negative impacts of its core business.