Dear Editor – Allow me first, to share my condolence to the family who have lost their (as described by neighbours) beautiful children.
My heart goes out to them and I pray that the God of comfort fill these empty spaces in that family.
While the blame game maybe played among family members right now or not, I’d like to say to them, take heart and do not be troubled as ultimately, God knows the reason why things happen.
Things happen for his own glory.
Just like Job, he was caught in a bigger battle between God and Satan, right and wrong and good and evil.
Job’s children were innocent just like those two little ones and God knows exactly what happened to them.
They were victims of that same battle and it was for God’s own glory. It may be a lesson to us parents to re-consider our ways. Remember, in all that happened, Job didn’t curse God instead he bowed down and worshiped God.
We may ask all the questions now and maybe don’t get the answers, but remember he is here with us through this problem, just as he was with Job.
However, this does not justify the fact that the parents are so ignorant as to not take proper precautions before leaving their vulnerable children to die in such a terrible disaster.
I would not forgive myself for the rest of my life for such immoral behaviour; but God can.
Everyone knows that candles always cause problems, especially fires.
How long have we been told not to leave candles burning unattended? How long till we see the fact that similar situations had occurred in the past and yet we do learn anything from it? Now that it’s over, who is to be blamed for this at the first place?
It is disgusting to say the least that parents or responsible people could ignore for once the dangers we ourselves and our kids face every day.
Maybe we need to follow the basic procedures taught at primary school level which are; STOP!, LOOK!; LISTEN!, THINK! and ACT!
Maybe we are so complacent with the “status quo” that we become so CARELESS?
In Fiji now, a law has been passed that parents whose children ended up in similar tragedies (fire, drowning, road accidents, falling from trees, etc.), the parents are sent to prison if they are found ignorant of their children’s safety.
I believe such laws should be enacted in our country so that the complacency mentioned earlier could be avoided or even make us apply the basic primary school rule mentioned above.
It should be a national issue and not just some kind of rules applying to urban centres because these events happen everywhere in our country.
Anyone found guilty of ignoring their kid’s safety must be held accountable.
This should be applied in various situations including picnics, camps, boat trips, etcetera; and those responsible for such events are responsible for the lives of those children under their supervision during such occasions.
I could only guess, but wouldn’t know where or what those parents were up to during that time of the night, but if I was the one here; I’d quit whatever unnecessary activities that led to such a disaster.
May they sleep in the Lord till the resurrection morning.
Jackson Ray
Fulton College
Nadi, Fiji Islands
