Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Think of Levuka

It's 50 since PAFCO started, and what a journey it has been. Levuka needs PAFCO for the people to survive. I lived in Levuka from 1985 to 1990 and it was thriving. The shops could afford to give goods on credit because the shop owner knew that the purchaser had a secure job. I too had the luxury of taking a stereo home on credit - I was a Customs officer. Such was the confidence of the shop keepers.

When PAFCO was thriving pay days would see supermarkets full of people with full shopping carts. Taxis would be hired and every so often when I wouldn't someone for a while I would be told that he or she had gone to Viti Levu to visit families. That is now restricted because finances is low now.

It was not odd to see drunk staggering home from a party. And eateries would always have patrons. New clothes could be seen worn by the people. By the way even the fisherman would give strings of fish on credit because come payday he gets his money.

And as for the church collection, the people could afford to give a little more.

Now that PAFCO is not doing so well, all of the above is now at a bare minimum.

Levuka really needs another industry to be set up there. Punjas, you reading this?

Film Censors

Many parents and guardians  are concerned about the content of movies shown in theaters and on TV.

May I ask if the Censor Board still exists?We need to do regular checks to safeguard our children.

As for me, some movies shown on TV need to go into the rubbish bin because of the content. They do not challenge us intellectually. It seems we just bring in what ever Hollywood tosses out. but seriously, is the Censor Board still around?

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen 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.