The Festive Regulations Framework will bring about much needed transparency and ensure the festival committees are responsible for their conduct.
Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development Hon. Premila Kumar highlighted this during the Festival Regulations Framework Workshop, this morning at the Suva Civic Conference Centre.
“It is the first time that we will have a national Festival Regulations for the benefit of the committees, municipal councils and the community as a whole,” Minister Kumar said.
“The reason behind the enactment of the Festival Regulations is due to the public outcry on the accountability and transparency of the festivals organised around the country.”
The festival committee members, municipal councils and special administrators are amongst the participants to discuss the need for Festival Regulations and the fundamental provisions in the regulations before it is finalised.
Minister Kumar added that the Festival Regulations Framework will serve as a key part of the governance arrangements for the conduct of the Town and Cities festivals across Fiji.
“There have been numerous complaints about organising of festivals, which ranges from: lack of accountability of the funds raised during the festival and the lack of transparency in the utilisation of the funds raised during the festival.”
The regulations will act as a minimum guideline to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of festivals and to ensure that proceeds generated from these festivals are used properly.