The Fiji Times, Sunday January 1^st 2012 page 21. Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka apologises to the peoples of Fiji in a large paid advertisement. 

Without a doubt that would have got a lot of people talking once they’d recovered from their midnight revelling. 

As the man says, it is not new, he’s done it before. But this time it is…a formal and more comprehensive public statement…that Sitiveni hopes will make history…for all time. 

As if the man hasn’t already made history! 2 coups, charging into parliament, shut-down-Sundays, curfews, and a much publicised extramarital affaire should be history-making enough, one might think. 

So what is this all about? Pssst! most likely more history-making! The clue lies in the ultimate paragraph…My road to redemption is difficult and not yet complete…

So is he planning a carefully orchestrated comeback? Is he aiming at a return to politics? Does he have his eye on a cosy seat in the house?

Is Sitiveni planning to complete his redemption by way of an about-face and the virtual undoing of his tragedy of 1987?

What better way than to set in motion a ‘mea culpa’ campaign’, secure a swathe of votes, gain a seat, and then tell the world he is not only forgiven, but wanted, needed and even loved?

Well, give it a go, Siti! And seeing as you lost your pension, maybe, when you have gained the right to earn another for yourself, you might, perhaps, remember the rest of us who are losing theirs. Of course, we didn’t lose out ‘your way’ – we worked for ours, but…

Sega na leqa!

Experience proves that letters to The Ed complaining about a retail outlet that advertises in their rag will never see the light of day. Therefore, knowing that Fijipenioners.com is widely read; and well aware that it is up to us silver-surfers to fight injustice and push and shove to get things put right, here goes! 

The Fiji Times, Thursday 29^th December reported, front page, that vendors at the junction of Mead and Princes Roads, Tamavua, were illegally selling produce on the side of the road. At first they set up across the road from MH Superfresh – proper little stalls, too. Last year they were chased away by the SCC. They returned. 

So the SCC erected stubby pine poles, and placed old tyres and planted them (so tacky), thereby making it impossible for stalls to be erected. So the sellers moved across the road to the MH Superfresh verge. 

Enter the SCC in the voice of Mr Chandu Umaria. Now, special administrator Umaria is rightfully praised for the many improvements implemented by the SCC. There is no doubt that many of them were overdue, especially the works along theSuvasea-front, which when finished will benefit everybody. However, in the matter of the sellers at the top of Mead road, he is just plain wrong, unjust, and far from the truth. 

Umaria claims that their presence is illegal, that he has spoken nicely to them, but if they do not move the police will be called in. He says that ‘residents living in the area had complained about the food sales’ and adds ‘It’s unhygienic. The food sold there is exposed to dust and vehicle fumes’.
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