Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in www.connectme.com.fj/news/opinion. I thank Allen and Connect for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.

Life after the Hisbiscus Festival

The MIC show is over, there were other “talent” shows happening around Fiji. The Hibiscus festival is over. We just had the Sugar Festival and the North is still going through with its festival. The Deans trophy is over. But hopefully we will be doing it all over again soon or next year.

For those who entered talents shows, is there life after the shows? The MIC show is a popularity show, if you read between the lines. The judges and TV viewers may have their choice of the winner, but in reality the winner is determined by the person who has the highest texts.  Many contestants were good but fell by the way because of the popularity elimination. I wonder if there are any of them who still want to pursue a career in singing? Some will be discouraged and shy away and move on to other things even though they have a fantastic singing voice. Their talent will be wasted. Others will carry on, enter other talent contests and continue with their love for singing. Hopefully they will be recognised and if their talent is good enough they will gain financially.

But, is there life after talent shows? Unemployment has been the scourge of society, we will all not become lawyers, doctors, teachers, some of us will become entertainers, farmers and other things. Via the many shows we have recognised that Fiji has talent. Can an organization be set up to follow up on these people, so that we tap their talent. And guess what, they will become a part of society because they will earn and spend money and of course pay taxes. 

Let’s do it now before people lose interest and become another statistic and get labeled lazy.

Scroll down to Weekend Reading.