COP 23 celebrations is important despite opposing comments – Katonitabua

The Ministry of iTaukei Affairs has confirmed that the celebration to welcome the delegation that oversaw the successful presidency of COP 23 planned for tomorrow will still go ahead on a smaller scale and not as earlier planned.

Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs Naipote Katonitabua says they had planned for the celebrations to held at Albert Park but that is cancelled due to the current weather condition.

Meanwhile there are suggestions that public personality Lenora Qereqeretabua is leading a petition on Facebook, calling on the government to stop the COP23 celebration.

When questioned by Fijivillage, Qereqeretabua said that this is not true and she is surprised by it.

Qereqeretabua said in the Letters to the Editor yesterday to please cancel the party, repair all the schools and make sure that all health centres have basic supplies.

She says that she is only raising her voice as a concerned citizen and after going online and seeing all the comments.

She says that she feels that people can use social media to ask government to change the plan which was estimated to cost $35,000.

The Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs says whatever Lenora Qereqeretabua has raised is her own opinion and the ministry will continue with the deserving celebration which is fitting as this is the first time a Small Pacific Island Nation took up the role of Presidency at COP 23.