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Moonshine Penalty |
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By Allen on
20/06/2008 7:45 p.m.
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A very long time ago the penalty for making moonshine was hanging.
How times have changed.
Allen Lockington
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Timber toll |
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By Allen on
20/06/2008 7:44 p.m.
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The rising cost of fuel will slowly take its toll on our timber.
More and more people will be forced to cook on fire and trees will be cut indiscriminately for fuel.
The whole process of rising costs is slowly snowballing if not kept in check will soon run out of control.
And this is the formula that will guarantee that the rich get richer an the poor get poorer.
Allen Lockington
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Simple plan |
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By Allen on
20/06/2008 7:43 p.m.
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Many citizens want Fiji to be a religiously committed country.
They can do it, provided their actions are legitimate, ethical, logical, sane, and in line with their religious doctrine.
Simple, because there can be no other.
Allen Lockington
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Dogs life |
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By Allen on
14/06/2008 1:49 p.m.
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We may be living in difficult times and for many citizens it is a real struggle to make ends meet, but for some they can afford many things. Bt this a story to warm the heart.
An employer thought he would throw a party for his employees to show his appreciation.
After a while an employee notices that his bosses dogs were also getting a feed. It wasn’t the left over bones but a new lot of lamb chops was being prepared for the pampered pooches.
The inebriated employee said when he died he would ask god to reincarnate him as a dog to be his bosses pet.
When asked why he said, “Those dogs eat better than me and boss treats his dogs very well.”
Allen Lockington
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What is absolute poverty |
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By Allen on
14/06/2008 1:33 p.m.
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The dailies have reported that many of our citizens live in absolute poverty.
What is absolute poverty, what is poverty and what is living below the poverty line.
It will be interesting to see what the Department of Social welfare has to say.
Allen Lockington
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AGs report |
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By Allen on
14/06/2008 1:32 p.m.
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When the Auditor General releases his report can it go straight to FICAC, please or to the police for that matter.
I have a feeling the reason why the report never really sees the light of day is because senior ranking civil servants would get in to trouble.
Over the years we have been reading about the same mismanagement, same abuse of office and same abuse of power. They must have very thick carpet in the halls of the civil service.
Then we hear that defaulting officers are punished by being transferred. That’s not solving the problem, that’s transferring the problem.
It is time that we put our foot down, if not five years down the road we will be ruled by the barrel of the gun again.
Allen Lockington
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How long |
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By Allen on
7/06/2008 7:35 p.m.
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Fuel prices are rising again. The cost of living scale is slowly tipping over.
The cost of basic food items is also rising. Pumpkin that used to cost $4.00 is now $7.00.
The interim government is not going to get 100% support from the whole country.
Financial aid that used to flow in is not coming.
Our tar sealed roads are turning into the gravel roads of the 60s.
The Interim Prime Minister has said not to ask about the legality of his regime.
How long will we carry on like this?
Allen Lockington
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What is |
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By Allen on
7/06/2008 7:35 p.m.
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The dailies have reported that many of our citizens live in absolute poverty.
What is absolute poverty, what is poverty and what is living below the poverty line.
It will be interesting to see what the Department of Social welfare has to say.
Allen Lockington
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Inconsiderate church |
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By Allen on
7/06/2008 7:34 p.m.
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Sunday morning 1st June the usually serene community that lives near Nadovu Park was awakened by the maniacal screaming of a preacher saying that Jesus is the way. This was just after 5 am. Preaching and screaming are two worlds apart but this was maniacal screaming. The preacher was saying that Jesus was the way the truth and the light. I’m sure Jesus didn’t say to wake people up unnecessarily.
To all the church’s and religious organization that use amplifiers to boost their spoken word, Jesus is not deaf and the people need their rest. We will get our own dose of the good news when we seek it we don’t need for it to be shoved down our throats early in the morning.
There are many incidents where drunken parties disturb the peace of other wise peaceful communities and this is no different.
Many church denominations that use Nadovu Park and amplify their microphones are very inconsiderate.
And to the police, please keep a look out for these kinds of disturbances. Whether it is a drunken party or a church please keep it down.
One of the messages in the Good News is about Jesus saying My Peace I bring to you and My Peace I Leave with you.
But this is certainly not the ...
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Wondering |
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By Allen on
7/06/2008 7:33 p.m.
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Some time ago I needed the services of a mechanic, so I looked around for someone who charged reasonably and was known in the market. In my search I put aside a very good friend who was also a mechanic.
I went from garage to garage and many of the services were much to be desired.
I still met my friend, had a few bowls of yaqona with him but he never asked me about my car. I knew he was good at his work but I just went to others.
After some time my car was in need of a mechanic who had a masters degree in mechanics.
I then asked my pal if he could take a look, he agreed and he fixed it and now its as just as good as new. And he said I didn’t have to pay him because he was my friend and he said loyalty was all he wanted. I was stunned, here was the best mechanic around and he had been a part of my life all the time, but my arrogance or stupidity took me to others. He now looks after my car and I consider him a Doctor of Motor cars.
I have since rued the day I put him aside and chose others, and to make it worse he didn’t ask to be paid. But l I pay him and he only asks for half of what the others charge, he said repairing a friends car was payment enough.
I wonde ...
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Vinaka Lautoka Hospital |
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By Allen on
7/06/2008 7:32 p.m.
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My family and I wish to thank the doctors, nurses, midwives and other personnel at the Lautoka hospitals’ Ante Natal and labour wards. My daughter was admitted at 10am on Monday 2nd of June and was due to deliver her first child and had been experiencing severe labour pains.
We were received with the utmost courtesy and professionalism.
She had been in labour some twenty hours and we were getting anxious because mother and child could get distressed.
The service rendered by the nurses and midwives in the labour ward was excellent. Our entourage of female relatives and friends had also gone into the labour ward and had somewhat crowded the place. They were politely asked to leave because they were causing a commotion in their anticipation of the coming newborn but were reassured that my daughter was in good hands.
While I waited outside I would hear squeals of newborns and said to my self , “Isa another life has just come into the world.” I was expecting to hear the scream of our new born but it was to be a few more hours and this was distressing me. The nurses’ constant check and advice was reassuring and this is what kept me sane.
When she finally delivered after a cesarean opera ...
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Ailing industry |
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By Allen on
7/06/2008 6:51 p.m.
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The bus industry must be really suffering from the hike in fuel price and the illegal transport trade.
On Thursday my friends left Lautoka at 530 pm for Suva on a bus and expected to arrive in Suva at about 1030 pm. It was an express and expected to stop only at hotels and towns.
However as soon as the bus passed Sigatoka the driver started picking up and dropping passengers like a normal highway bus. Passengers began berating the driver but he stopped anyway.
At Korolevu Police station he stopped for a passenger who got off at Komave village and when the driver tried to move the bus it wouldn’t. A hose had bust.
He then asked passengers for a torch. And after some more swearing the passengers helped him. The driver called three mobile phones but no one came so they just tied the hose with a piece of wire and reach Suva at midnight.
The bus industry is facing hard times at the expense of passengers. People who had to travel to Nasinu had to hire taxies. Because of the delay they missed the last bus to Nausori which usually leaves the Suva bus stand at 1020 pm.
When confronted, the driver said, “What can I do, I’m just the driver.”
Well, the government m ...
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Lets better our style |
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By Allen on
28/05/2008 9:26 p.m.
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The days of scores reaching 80 and 100 in sevens rugby is over.
Our team’s prowess in those days was natural ability. Our wins were always convincing.
Later on other teams learnt from us. Studied our style and worked on it and bettered it.
Fiji, while we still are very good, lose it when we are in a tight corner. A good team stays calm when under pressure and never shows signs of cracking. Our boys during the end of each game look tired. Is our endurance lacking? While Fiji beat Kenya, it was not impressive, have we lost our edge or have the other teams just gotten better.
What ever is missing, surely the powers that be in Rugby House should know.
One thing that is surely missing is the ferocious tackling that we were once renowned for and the support play. It was evident in the Kenya game. Support was there but always a little late.
Another thing that we lack is confidence and that cannot be taught by a coach, the player himself has to bring that.
Allen Lockington
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Disagree |
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By Allen on
6/05/2008 11:19 p.m.
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I refer to Mr. Himmat Lodhia (FT 3/4) and utterly differ with him.
FIRCA has a mission and vision statement that speaks for itself.
It is posted in all FIRCAs walls for the public to see.
Just read what the posters say and you will know that they mean what they say.
Allen Lockington
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Free media |
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By Allen on
6/05/2008 11:18 p.m.
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During the days of free media, this is back in the days when Robert Keith Reid wrote his column Side Tracks and Netani Rika had his Sunday column, the people of Fiji were entertained by the news. It was pleasant to read. It was informative and most of all it was liberated. Government ministers went about their work, slipping every now then and a foot in the mouth here and there and the media would have a field day, the people were informed and the minster would also have a laugh and pull up his socks.
In the past, the Fiji Times had a segment called Off The cuff. We would read peoples opinions and get to see their faces because people didn’t fear being recognized or persecuted. The media was absolutely free back then and no one minded. Then people started doing illegal things legally. If you question me about this statement, you bet, it is possible. People used loop holes in the law and flaunted them. They used our weak legal system for their benefit and also the vulnerability of those who enforced them.
Nowadays, people will only say their bit around the tanoa of yaqona and in back alleyways or whisper things to friends and ask not to be quoted.
In the good old days someone errs, the media highlighted it, it was rectified and life c ...
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7s Rugby |
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By Allen on
6/05/2008 11:16 p.m.
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I just watched the 1991 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Bank Hong Kong 7s. A youthful Waisele Serevi, Pauliasi Tabulutu, Mesake Rasari, Vesi Rauluni, Noa Nadruku, Tomasi Cama and Niko Baleiverata were coached by Ratu Kitione.
The final was between New Zealand and Fiji with the over the top pass from Serevi to the between the legs pass from Nadruka and Tomasi Camas gallop to the try line.
It is now 17 years since then and the commentary was by Mr. Keith Quinn and here are some of his comments.
Serevi is such a magician that it is a joy to watch.
They are so lackadaisical sometimes but the crowd just love to see them like this.
Just a little touch of sheer brilliance which makes this little lad a joy to watch.
It seems they are indifferent about what’s going on but that’s when they are at their most dangerous.
Oh what a bruising thumping tackle on Zinzan Brook by Tabulutu, I suppose this is how Fiji feels is the way to play the game.
There is a another bruising tackle on Grahme Bashop.
It was the furious tackles that won us the games. Well including the foot work of Noa Nadruku.
We don’t enjoy the game so much now ...
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National Prayer |
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By Allen on
4/05/2008 3:00 p.m.
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Dear Lord we pray that we may have better roads.
We ask for better supply of drinking water,
Please remind those who look after electricity that we a very dependant on it,
We ask that traders who sell pirated DVDs to stop their illegal trade,
We pray that the government finds ways and means to create employment,
We also ask that import duty on basic food items is reduced because inflation is affecting every body even the rich,
(their profit margin is coming down)
We ask that you give our farmers the enthusiasm to grow more food,
Because we are slowly becoming dependant on imports,
We pray dear lord that we return to democracy,
Because Dear Lord, democracy is about being able to challenge and not just following,
And most importantly we ask that our media is given freedom to deliver the news without fear,
Otherwise Dear Lord gossip can develop, and this is very bad,
We ask that the people in the educating system pull up their socks,
And please remind teachers that corporeal punishment is illegal,
We thank the telephone companies for giving us double ups, it is a help,
And we ask that a synthet ...
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Pirates |
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By Allen on
4/05/2008 2:57 p.m.
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One way to get traders who sell videos and music cd’s is to register all of them (for the records) and give them the law that says it is illegal to sell illegally reproduced media.
And the last line should read “The penalty for reproducing and selling pirated videos and music Cd’s is $50,000.00. No court case needed.”
If they are caught they pay the spot fine. No 7 days leeway. Their shop is closed for the duration of the time they go looking for the money.
Try this out, it may work. Or can the illegal traders afford to pay 50,000 and continue to trade illegally.
Another option is to make it a crime for someone to buy pirate cd’s.
The fine, also $50,000. If that doesn’t stop the illegal trade then add a few stroke of the birch to the fine.
Oh and lastly ask them if they understand that particular law.
Allen Lockington
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Thank you |
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By Allen on
4/05/2008 1:29 a.m.
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I wish to congratulate ANZ bank staff on their 30 years of loyal service. (FT 16/4)
There are not many citizens who have remained loyal to Fiji and stayed on despite the current political situation.
Anyway, I recently visited the ANZ bank in Tavua and was pleasantly surprised when a gentleman opened the door for me and welcomed me with a very bright smile, saying “Welcome to ANZ Bank Tavua, Sir, how may we help you.”
I then said that I wanted o see the manager but was told that he was out and if someone else could help me. Now this is service.
Vinaka vaka levu ANZ Bank, I salute you for your service where we do not have to stand in line and just like the money code – its swift.
Allen Lockington
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Talk is cheap |
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By Allen on
4/05/2008 1:28 a.m.
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We are gearing up to a general elections, or will it be called a private elections? Anyway each time an election is held and a political party wins, it will be the voice of democracy speaking and any which way it is what the people chose.
The way to stop the coups is to educate the people not choose the first person who comes offering a spade with an out outboard engine. Or some one who offers to give electrification. Because talk is cheap, the things being promised cost money, a lot of money. Many politicians have very big mouths but very small pockets. Some have no pockets they have other peoples pockets to rely on. You will notice them going by bus or taxi when they are out of parliament.
In the words of the great Robert Keith Reid - No more tinted Ratu Mobile.
So come the general elections (I hope to vote again in my life time) if you are a vying politician don’t promise the people what your pocket cant provide. But there is another threat and Josef Stalin summed it up well "The people who vote decide nothing. The people who count
the vote decide everything."
Allen Lockington
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