A year after the Hibiscus Festival in 1983, contestants expressed their frustrations to The Fiji Times regarding unclaimed prizes. On September 19, 1984, the publication reported that participants were upset over missing items, including a rice cooker, a track suit, and vouchers for meals and stays at restaurants and hotels.
The contestants had previously signed agreements prohibiting them from publicly criticizing the organizing committee. One anonymous winner voiced her disappointment, stating, “We were also disappointed because the value of some of the prizes was grossly inflated by the committee and the donors in advertisements during and prior to the festival itself.” She provided examples of inflated values, mentioning that a four-burner gas stove was advertised at $780, while its actual worth was closer to $500; a washing machine was said to be valued at $600, but was later found to be worth only $120.
The winner highlighted the ongoing uncertainty around the 10 missing prizes, prompting an urgent meeting of the prizes committee after inquiries were made post-ceremony. They had been assured that the remaining prizes would be distributed promptly, but as of the time of the article, they were still waiting.
The article reported committee chairman Maganlal Dahya acknowledging that some prizes had not been collected from sponsors. However, he clarified that these were mostly cinema tickets and restaurant vouchers. Dahya mentioned that he received instructions from higher-ups not to collect certain prizes, including the rice cooker and track suit, which were to be gathered by other committee members. He expressed ignorance about the whereabouts of those items.
Dahya stated, “I collected the rest of the prizes and handed them over to the president, Mrs Shahima Stoddart, and others,” but added that he was not responsible for their distribution. In response, Mrs. Stoddart asserted her lack of involvement in the prizes, saying, “I was only the president in 1983 and had nothing to do with the prizes. If various committee chairmen like Maganlal Dahya can’t do their job, then why come to me?”
The 1983 Miss Hibiscus crown was awarded to Annie Raymond, with Debbie Francis Jack as the first runner-up and Rosie Patel as the second runner-up. Roslyn Gibson earned the Miss Charity title.