An emotional Vaseva Rabo could only say so much as she thanked her parents and sponsors after being crowned the 2023 Tebara Carnival Queen at the Syria Park in Nausori.
The Bachelor of Arts student at the University of the South Pacific won six awards altogether including Ms Photogenic, Best Personality, Best Talent, Best Traditional Attire and Ms Charity.
“Thank you so much mom and dad for everything that you’ve done, for all the support and all the words of advice that you’ve given me from day one of my participating and from all the rehearsals,” Ms Rabo said.
“Especially to my mom, she’s been spending sleepless nights, organising me and always running around to get my attires for each night and always going out of her way.
“Moving on to my wonderful sponsor, he couldn’t be here tonight but thank you so much for supporting me throughout the week of the carnival and as you’ve seen I’ve won Ms Charity, and I thank you so much for that.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad, while delivering his main address, said the history of Syria Park has brought the communities together.
“It is a history of reconciliation; it is a history that we can rejoice and celebrate when it comes to the bravery and the effort of our people at that time to save the descendants of girmitya and those who came on the Syria jahaj. Thank you so much,” Prof Prasad said.
“Festivals of this nature, and here I want to thank the chairman, the committee and all you good people for coming together and bringing this festival together. Festivals are a time of bringing people together.
“It is a time of sharing with one another your joy, your contribution and your effort to not only be part of a celebration, but also use the occasion to raise funds that serve and help our communities.
“I was very pleased when the chairman was listing all the contributions that the Tebara committee has been making and they’re commendable and they’re worth your praise.”
Other awards include:
• 1st Runner-up – Ms Nausori Town Council Ana Lule Raogo.
• 2nd Runner-up – Ms Pak N Save Faaizah Shahina.
• Best Research Topic – Ms Pak N Save Faaizah Shahina.
• Best Dress – Ms Nausori Town Council Ana Lule Raogo.
• Best Sarong – Ms Nausori Town Council Ana Lule Raogo.
• Ms Social Media – Ms Nausori Plaza Priyashna Payal Prasad.
