The Fashion Parade of the Hibiscus Carnival, a highly anticipated event, was canceled in 1996. According to event coordinator Ana Sweetman, the cancellation resulted from various organizational challenges. Sweetman expressed disappointment in a statement, noting that confirmations for the event and sponsorship came too late.
“It would be unfair on the public to just present a fashion show for the sake of it without proper planning,” she stated. The fashion parade had been a prominent highlight of the carnival in previous years, and organizers had aimed to commemorate the event’s 40th anniversary with a special show featuring former Hibiscus queens and their children as models.
“It’s a pity because this year, we wanted to celebrate the milestone with something special,” Sweetman added. Additionally, it seemed that an internal conflict among the carnival’s organizing committee was beginning to resolve itself. Publicity officer Elenoa Sikivou, who had previously raised concerns about judging inconsistencies in past events, announced that High Court Judge Justice Daniel Fatiaki would now oversee the judging process.
Earlier, committee chairman Arthur Hazelman had pushed back against Sikivou’s comments, which he felt undermined the credibility of past judges and organizers. Litia Koto Vakarewakobau, a former president of the Fiji Hibiscus Association and vice-president of the Suva Chamber of Commerce, criticized the current committee’s performance. She raised concerns about the lack of publicly available audited financial statements and called for greater transparency.
“Why aren’t they publishing the audited accounts?” she questioned. The committee was also criticized for not holding or advertising public annual general meetings, a practice that Vakarewakobau stated was standard during her tenure. She emphasized that all profits from events and stalls were directed to charitable initiatives during her leadership.