RESPECT and appreciate all the contestants for having the courage to stand up in public and speak about the things that affect us as Fijians.
This was highlighted by the Vodafone acting chief marketing manager Shailendra Prasad at the official opening of the 2018 Vodafone Hibiscus Festival at the Valelevu grounds, Nasinu, yesterday.
“To enter the carnival as a contestant is not in everyone’s capacity,” he said.
“We therefore, must respect and appreciate all the contestants for having the courage to stand up to public scrutiny and advocate on issues that affects us all.”
Mr Prasad said the theme for this year’s festival was refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. “The effects of climate change are real and already advanced.
“We can already see many derelict vehicles abandoned in places around the country, ships in our harbors and plastic and plastic bottles on our beaches, in our seas and in our rivers.
“If we do not take decisive action now these will become real problems in the long term.”
He urged the public to dispose of their rubbish responsibly and conserve the environment for future generations to enjoy.
