Fiji Times Online

Fiji Time: 7:51 PM on Thursday 9 September

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Cleric takes offence at bikini billboards

Monday, December 22, 2008

MUNICIPAL councils do not have a say on the type of advertising done by business houses on billboards, says the Suva City Council.

Deputy mayor Josefa Gavidi said the council had a say in approval and structure of billboards.

"We do not have a say in what goes on the billboard," Mr Gavidi said.

The statement comes as the Nakasi Islamic Centre Trust Committee raised its concern at billboard advertisements by the road, especially those of girls exposed in bikinis.

Mr Gavidi said the council had received complaints of such nature.

In a letter to the editor in The Fiji Times, chairman Mohammed Ramzan said the roadside ads were hazardous and likely to cause accidents.

"Such ads clearly show that our cultural and moral values are eroding. We are accustomed to western influence and accept modern culture as a norm in our society.

"Gone are the days when tourists came to Fiji to see our cultural heritage," Mr Ramzan said.

"What was considered to be a cultural country is no different than any western country.

"It perturbs me to see us let westernisation become a norm in our country," he said.

Mr Ramzan called on the relevant authority to look into the matter and regard society as a morally conserved place to stay in and consider cultural values before placing ads which are not morally accepted.

Efforts to get comments from Digicel were unsuccessful yesterday.

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