Road Safety And Responsibility Highlight Of President’s Message
His Excellency the President Major-General (Ret’d) Jioji Konousi Konrote today urged all Fijians to be responsible while commuting on our roads.
The President made these comments at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Vodafone Fiji Hibiscus Festival held at the Vodafone Arena this afternoon.
President Konrote said this year’s Hibiscus theme “Road Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility”, is a timely reminder that Fijians need to be more responsible given the number of deaths and accidents on our roads.
“Road fatality continues to rise as of the 8th of August last week our road death toll stood at 38 this equivalent to 5 to 6 people dying every month. It is very sad and worrying indeed – this is a worrying trend for us as a nation, and approximately 38 families are without a child, a father, a mother or a grandparent,” President Konrote said.
“One life lost on our roads is already one too many and as caring Fijians we must work together to protect each other and create greater awareness on this issue because the more we talk about it the more people are aware and the more chances of saving a life.”
President Konrote commended the Vodafone Hibiscus Festival committee for using the festival as a platform to widely publicise the importance of road safety and to create greater awareness within our communities.
“The change can only happen, if we take responsibility. If you are a driver, a passenger, a pedestrian let us all be champions of road safety. Let us take this message into our homes, our neighbourhoods, our schools and our workplaces. Let us not be complacent to allow a family to lose a loved one.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Hibiscus Events Group Inc chairman, Hirdesh Prasad reminded all Fijians to be responsible while commuting on our roads.
“Road safety is every one’s responsibility and we should work together to prevent accidents and this year at the festival we are taking the lead role in advocating for safer roads.”
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Vodafone Hibiscus festival will feature the public judging for the queen contestants and entertainment for families to enjoy.
