Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has requested a clarification from the Minister for Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa, regarding a series of incidents that took place during the 2024 Hibiscus Festival.
During his speech at the Miss Hibiscus crowning ceremony on Saturday, Mr. Rabuka expressed his dissatisfaction and disappointment with how the festival was organized, stressing the importance of implementing better safety measures at public events.
He mentioned that his grandchildren had accompanied him to the festival and were fortunate to avoid an incident that occurred earlier in the week.
Mr. Rabuka urged all parties involved in the arrangement of future festivals to make public safety a top priority. “I call on everyone involved, especially government agencies, municipal councils, and business operators, to be vigilant about the safety and security of the public,” he stated.
Furthermore, he expressed concern over the exclusion of a team from Drug Free World Fiji from the opening march, noting the importance of their presence for public awareness on drug-related issues.
He formally invited Mr. Nalumisa to explain the problems that occurred during the festival.