Organising committee members of festival have come under the spotlight for allegedly misusing funds.

This was revealed by the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar revealed this during the Festival Committees Meeting at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi yesterday.

She did not reveal the festival committee but said she was aware and that there would be investigations conducted. If need be the matter will be taken to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). She said transparency and accountability should be observed at all costs.

She asked: “How long they have been involved and what kind of policies they have put in place to disclose what they collected and how they will use?

“The public are kept in the dark on the usage. This is what we want to get rid of,” she said.

“What we want is simply to hold the committees to account. They have to disclose how much amount they’ve collected and how it will be used.

“The only way we can do that is through the Local Government Act where we can introduce a regulation because at the moment it is just a policy which has been placed on the table for discussions.”

The municipal councils and organising Committees for various festivals have all been put on notice in regards to funds collected during annual fete.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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