Tragedy of the Commons.

Fiji easily writes off taxes from a Government agency yet it pulls out all stops in other tax payers. Exemplifying parallels to "The Tragedy of the Commons".

Fuel Quality is the reason is why the Big 3 of oil have managed to earn profits on the backs of pollution to Pacific islands.

It is concerning issue for S.I.F.M, that there is no official agency in Fiji Government to scruntinize Fuel Quality and establish legislation on existing Environmental Laws in Fiji.

Unfortunately there are no brilliant minds in Fiji Government to create more tax concessions for importers of plumbing fixtures that uses a conservative water-flow rate. It is the un-obstructive waste of water in Fiji that has created this demand.
So it would be prudent to penalize the cronic water wasters and establishing a reward-induced conservation programs for water and energy.



This is a provocative piece by Rotten State on the issue of Great Council of Chief's new building. Welcome back Rotten State!




Fiji Times Voice of the People.

Polluted harbor

Your article on the polluted harbor (FT 1/2) is very concerning. If research showed that it was polluted in 2000/ 2001 then what is the condition of it now?

The Lami dump as claimed which contributed to its situation only ceased to operate last year but still exists. Therefore one would presume it is still contributing to the pollution.

Even more concerning is that seafood from the harbor has been consumed by so many since then. I am sure others like me would like to know where this research was until now and who is responsible for telling the citizens.

God bless Fiji.

Gyanendra Lachmaiya
Suva

Polluted sea

With the high level and rate of pollution in the Suva harbor, one wonders how much longer can we guarantee our safety by consuming seafoods from other safety zones.

The seas and oceans have now become dumping grounds for all toxic substances posing greater risks on living organisms but more so on humans who depend on seafoods.

We love the fish and other living organisms used for food which daily feed on these waste and toxic material. How can we be assured that these seafoods are clean when their natural surrounding is filthy?

Fish and other seafoods are delicacies but which now should be ignored. No one will die from a lack of fish or seafood.

Sicknesses can be caused by poor diet and dietary habits.

Sanaila Ravia
Nadawa


Stupid advice

Once I was told by the an officer at a police station that any person who does not hold a Fiji passport or holds a PR of any other country and living there can neither enter nor discuss politics in Fiji.

It is an offence and they could be charged. I wonder if people staying abroad and using this column to air their opinions should be charged under any law.

I reiterate that we do not need their stupid advice because they have left this beautiful Fiji. They should leave us alone. Your correspondent from Sacramento (FT 31/1) should know that Iraq needs him more than us in Fiji.

Surendra Kumar
Nadi

SKY Plus

Fiji Television Group CEO Mesake Nawari in a public notice attempts to pacify the ever increasing number of disgruntled Sky Plus subscribers by reassuring them that for 2006 they will receive no less for their subscription than what they received in previous years (FT 31/1).

Does this also mean the same number of repeat programs especially on the National Geographic and Hindi channels?

And can Mr Nawari confirm that major sporting events will continue to be aired live and not relegated to delayed broadcasting? I'm sure his response will influence the decision of many subscribers whether to continue paying $40 per month in 2006 for this service.

S. Singh
Lautoka

Television license

I reply to Eddie Chan's letter (FT 1/2) re TV2 Fiji.

Other than through his letters to this column no one at TV2 has heard of Eddie Chan but we sincerely thank him for his support over the years.

As he quite rightly points out, "pay" TV is the domain of the wealthy elite. To quote the late Dr Ahmed Ali, Minister for Communications (from Hansard) "Television viewing opportunities should be available not just to a wealthy elite but to the ordinary person. We cannot make television viewing exclusive.

I have said previously that monopoly is keeping our children in the dark ages. If television goes down the same insensitive path, we will revert to glacial times, in the context of knowledge dissemination as readily available with the rest of the world. Today, the availability of access to this knowledge through television is a human right, as many would correctly say, and indeed, a fundamental right, intended for all human beings, not just the wealthy and the privileged few".

TV2 has written seven letters to the current Minister for Communications Mrs (Marieta) Rigamoto since last August inquiring about the status of our application.

She had advised at that time that it would require "a few more weeks" deliberation before the Cabinet sub-committee passed it to Cabinet.

Six months on we are still waiting for a response from the minister. TV2 is ready to bring a new world of "free" television to Fiji and our Pacific affiliates - programs on healthy living, cooking and lifestyles, children's educational programs, current mini series, movies and series, primetime documentaries and specials (that are currently only available on "pay" channels), and much more. As shown by Fiji TV's massive tax-free profits, constantly increasing share value and returns to shareholders, the marketplace will be more than able to support a second commercial operator.

To believe that TV2 will take half of Fiji One's advertisers is ridiculous.

TV2 will generate new advertisers who, no doubt, will also wish to advertise on Fiji One. TV2 may take half of the advertising pie, but that pie will be made much much larger by TV2's sales team.

Minister Rigamoto has stated "we are determined to open up the TV market", but at the same time "we have to think of Fiji TV first".

Why? Why not think of the people of Fiji first rather than "Fiji TV" or more accurately, its rich influential shareholders?

Who, exactly, is delaying TV2's licence submission and why?

Ken Stratton
TV2 Fiji

Club Em Designs