The Minister for Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure and Transport Parveen Kumar, closed the Ba Riverside Carnival last Saturday night in front of thousands of people.

Mr Kumar has been involved with this carnival since he served as a mayor and then special administrator of Ba Town.

“The Ba Riverside Carnival is more than a beauty pageant; it is also an opportunity for the town and the people of Ba to showcase themselves,” Mr Kumar said.

“Over the years, the funds raised from the carnival have gone to a number of worthy causes with no exception this year.

“This is a special time for the princesses and the queens and I look forward to seeing you all being capable ambassadors for Ba,” he said.

“The skills in the public speaking department and the general growth in personality from your experience as a contestant should not go to waste. You will look even better and be winners for life by embracing community work and lending a hand towards the people of Ba, in whatever capacity that best suits you.”

He commended the hard work of the generous sponsors of the contestants.

“I am not forgetting your families and friends for the support and love that they have given you.

He acknowledged the nine queen contestants and the five little princesses for their participation in the event. The carnival was a total success with the number of stalls and people that came out with families to enjoy the annual event.

This all was possible through the help and assistance of the sponsors, organisers and businesshouses.

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