Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has urged cabinet ministers to avoid wearing kalavata, during his address at the Fiji Sports Awards held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva on Saturday night.
Rabuka emphasized the importance of being aware of the less fortunate members of society who are struggling due to challenges in the modern world. He apologized to the event organizers for not wearing the kalavata that was provided for the occasion, stating, “I’ve been trying to tell the ministers to discourage kalavata as some people cannot afford changes in what they wear throughout the year.”
He highlighted that the shirt he wore that evening was the sixth kalavata he had received, mentioning that each day during the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat meetings in Tonga featured a new shirt. However, he pointed out that many people do not share the same privileges.
“We have to be mindful of the difficulties posed around us in their daily life,” he added.