Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa is set to meet with officials from the Suva City Council and the Hibiscus Committee to address issues that emerged during the recently held week-long festival.
Concerns among the public escalated after Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka publicly called for the minister’s involvement, especially following an incident on the final day when strong winds damaged several stall roofs.
“I’ll be meeting with the Suva City Council special administrators this Wednesday to discuss all the issues at the Hibiscus Festival and will comment then,” stated Mr. Nalumisa.
During the festival’s closing, Prime Minister Rabuka emphasized the importance of public safety and urged festival organizers to make it a priority. He called on all parties involved, including government agencies, municipal councils, and business operators, to remain vigilant regarding public safety and security.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over the Hibiscus Committee’s decision to cancel a Drug Awareness march during the festival. He noted the troubling decision to prevent the group from Drug World Fiji from distributing promotional materials.
Additionally, many attendees took to social media to voice dissatisfaction with the quality of the live coverage, highlighting that the limited stage time and repetitive, brief statements made during media interviews hindered the public’s ability to assess the contestants effectively.