Opposition MP Jone Usamate emphasized the importance of public safety in light of incidents during the final day of the Hibiscus Festival. He raised concerns about unsecured roofing tins that posed a significant safety risk when they flew off their stalls.
“Fortunately, there were no injuries during this morning’s incident, but had it occurred later in the day, the outcome could have been much worse,” Usamate stated. He questioned the lack of security for the roofs and the clearance provided by Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) for stalls that were deemed unsafe. Additionally, he inquired about potential compensation for stall owners who invested substantial amounts of money for their spaces at the festival.