A year after losing her daughter in a tragic Ferris wheel accident at the annual Fiji Showcase event, Sunita Wati is still seeking justice.
Ms. Wati continues to pray daily, hoping that those responsible for her daughter Kamal Kavita Kumar’s death will be held accountable. Adding to her grief, Ms. Wati lost her husband just months after the incident, leaving life unbearable for their family in Dilkusha, Nausori.
She believes her husband endured profound pain in silence, which contributed to his death. “But I pray justice will prevail. I won’t stop seeking answers,” Ms. Wati said through tears. “I just want justice for my daughter.”
On June 30 last year, 21-year-old Kamal died at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained after falling from the Ferris wheel. The accident also seriously injured two others who were sharing the seat with her.
Since the incident, the police, Ministry of Employment, the Ministry of Public Works, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) have been investigating. Despite this, one year later, no charges have been filed.
Last month, the ODPP disclosed that after a thorough analysis, it sent a letter to the Director CID and the Ministry of Employment, recommending that the police complete their parallel investigation and submit the file for further evidence analysis. The ODPP is still awaiting a complete police report and investigation.
It is understood that the owner of the Ferris wheel company has left the country.
Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua expressed his understanding of the family’s concern and assured that necessary actions would be taken. “Let me follow through with CID; I need to know how far the investigation has gone,” he said. “I understand the family’s concern. I have to talk to the Police Commissioner about the investigation’s progress.”
As a precaution for public safety, event and festival organizers have excluded Ferris wheels from their events since the incident.
At her home in Dilkusha, Nausori, Ms. Wati continues to struggle with the loss of her daughter, the youngest of her four children. While bearing the pain from the tragic accident, Ms. Wati vows to remain strong for her remaining children and grandchildren. “I don’t need money; I just want justice for my daughter. That’s it,” she said. “She (Kamal) loved to put on make-up and dress herself up.”
Officers visited her last month but did not provide any substantial updates on the investigation. “She would have been here today, married and fulfilling her dreams, but she’s gone,” Ms. Wati lamented.