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.
Abandoned Children
The story of baby Jim Black, five-year old Joka and three-year old Box is heart wrenching. Who would want to abandon children? Let alone a six month old baby. The parents have to be insane or extremely traumatised. They may have been praying for a miracle to happen, and an angel to arrive to rescue them. But the angel Sera Nalavasa is struggling herself. The picture of the children and Sera carrying baby Jim Black tells a story. The kids must be wondering where their nau and ta have gone to. What has happened to them, what will happen to the kids? Oh the heart weeps for these children.What can we do about poverty in Fiji with people’s desire to have children. Sex education has to be seriously revisited.
To the parents of the children, I have never walked in your shoes so I can only empathise. I hope someone some place in Fiji will also be reading the story and lend a helping hand. Many of us will be giving what we can. What can the vanua do? What about the uncles and aunts and other relatives? Are they around? Unfortunately people in the village are struggling and an extra mouth is a burden that can be done without.
But let’s rescue the kids from this dilemma. Some parents have lost their children recently through accidents, negligence and fires. Would they consider adopting the abandoned children? The corporate companies also have the power to make a difference. If they could find a spare place for a labourer, one more impoverised dad would have a job and perhaps one less child would be abandoned.
We have sent cash and kind to people affected by disasters in the Pacific, yet we have our share of disasters in abandoned kids and I know the same lending hand will reach out and spare a few dollars, clothes and food for the children. Thank you Sera Nalavasa for being a good person. You are the kind of person Fiji can build their hopes on. You have nothing yet you reached out and helped a family in need. The story has been publicised. Help can come to the family.
And to the Social welfare, I hope the report is wrong in that you can only help Sera if she secures the children's birth certificates. Does a piece of paper mean so much that it hinges on the welfare of the children. But I don’t know how they work at the Welfare department so I leave it to them.
We should not go out looking for people when they are down and out. We should do something for them while they are still able. What about statistics, is there any regarding extremely poor people. Where has this family been? Why have they been allowed to suffer so much? There are many questions, I hope someone knows about them.
With no disrespect, a soccer tournament is happening right here in Lautoka. Thousands of dollars are being passed around. And in a cardboard box a family sat shivering in the cold and wet night, just a few days ago not knowing what the future may hold.
Is this the disparity of the people of Fiji? But to Sera, you’re a hero, God bless you.
The story in the Fiji Times http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=147749
Sequel
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=147955
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