I know that statement is incorrect but that’s how it is.

They do not have a Public Service Vehicle licence, drivers have not undergone defensive driving courses, and they do not possess third party insurance.

But I have often used them in times of urgency and you can bet your bottom dollar that one of them will come along when you are in a hurry.

Some taxis will not take you if the journey is short. Not the illegal guy.

May I suggest once again that drivers of illegal mini-vans be fined by sending them to defensive driving school?

The reason is because they will return to driving illegally because it puts bread and butter on the table.

They have been around for so long that in my opinion they have an established clientele.

Don’t get me wrong I do not support illegal activities but I have seen that they are providing a service –– a service that people use too regularly. to be ignored

They may be taking away business from legal transportation companies i.e. busses and taxies. If government was to really concerned there would be no illegal taxis and vans around because the drivers would be in jail.

As for public service vehicle drivers, especially buses, being a nuisance, here are some observations:

m They will stop anywhere, even if there is a bus bay ahead;

m they will turn without indicating;

m they will overload their buses;

m they will play loud music in the vernacular even if all the passengers belong to another ethnicity;

m they will leave a bus bay and you have to brake very hard to avoid an accident;

With due respect to the bus industry these are my observations, if you fix these you will be much better.

Sick sheet gone wrong

It has been reported that some doctors have been issuing sick sheets when the person is not really sick.

This practice is an age old one.

Go to the civil servants clinic and you will see people walk in looking like they had the plague and coming out on cloud nine.

Some will want to jump into the air with joy.

A few years ago I had a suspected wrist fracture and went to see a doctor.

I was in extreme pain but I noticed that people who were going into the doctor’s cubical did not stay there very long to warrant a medical check or question and answer to determine the person’s ailment.

I listened very carefully and this is what I heard.

Doctor: “Name.”

The patient would answer.

“Age.”

The patient would answer.

“Address.”

The patient would answer.

“How many days.”

The patient would answer.

I made it a point to see the expression on the face of the patient when he or she came out. Some had long faces and some had been healed because they had smiles that would do well in the tourism industry.

There was this one time when I thought a “patient” was about to do cartwheels of joy.

Then it was my turn and the doctor, with the same monotone said, “Name, Age, Address, how many days.”

I didn’t answer because I was stunned.

It had been a while since I’d been to a doctor.

When he looked up he said, “Was wrong, why you no talking?”

Then he saw my swollen hand and he seemed upset because now he had to do a medical check.

I may have disturbed his comfortable life.

It was just as if I had come to the wrong place.

He said, “Why you come here, why you no go to Nadi hospital, here no X-ray?”

Then he smiled and asked, “You want sick sheet.”

I said, “No, I want a medical check, an X-ray, I want to know if my wrist is broken.”

He said, “Okay, okay”.

Then he filled in an X-ray form and told me to go to the Nadi Hospital.

I’m glad that doctor has returned to his country.

Could the authorities, when recruiting doctors from abroad, make sure real doctors are coming and not ones who have degrees in giving outmedical certificates.

On a funny note, many years ago a relative of mine and a friend decided they were going to be sick on a Friday.

They went up to the Valelevu Health Centre and decided they would exchange names.

When they came out my relative was limping.

They had indeed exchanged names for the fun of it but when my relative was asked what was wrong he said he had body aches and joint pains.

Then the doctor had asked, “What did you eat last night.”

He said, “Fish.”

“Do you feel a sensation on your tongue when you drink water?”

“Yes.”

Doctor, “Nurse, prepare a shot.”

He got an injection.

As the two friends in crime walked out they looked like soldiers –– one wounded and the other carrying his mate, but in this case one was laughing and the other almost crying.

My relative said, “That’s not funny I got an injection for you, you should have had one for me.”