CHAIRMAN OF venues’ committee for the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts, Frank Haikiu is concerned with delay of ground work for the events village. The festival village will be located at the Panatina grounds between Solomon Telekom recreational grounds and SIFF Academy.
Mr Haikiu shared his concerns when asked about the factors causing the delay of the festival village which will host neighbouring countries in next year’s festival.
He said the delay of work on the event’s site is a worry because according to him, the Committee is way behind schedule and needs a faster pace in its progression in order to meet the deadline.
He added the slowness is due to many major factors which he blames no one but calls on all individuals involved to work hand in hand for the good of the event and for the people.
He said things could have been easier if work had begun three to four years ago.
“Having only a few months left to meet the deadline is unrealistic.”
He said there is need for seriousness in effort put into play by the authorities if they really want Solomon Islands to show pride to its Pacific neighbours in hosting of the Pacific Arts Festival.
Mr. Haikiu also pointed out that the gov’t should look seriously into the seriousness of the matter and help boost them with their timing which is way behind how it should be.
“This event should be seen as a pride for the government of this nation and the people.
“They should be proud of hosting such an event because it is going to be boost to our economy and the same time a onetime privilege.
“May be the next opportunity will come in a hundred years’ time by then a lot of us would not be here and let’s not forget that there are a lot of countries in the Pacific region that wish to host it,” he said.
Solomon Island was given the right to host the 11th Pacific Arts Festival when it won the bid after the 10th Festival in Pago Pago, American Samoa in 2007 and it is held once every four years.
The event will take place from 1st to 14th July 2012 where thousands of artists and performers from around the region are expected to be in the capital city, Honiara, for the Pacific’s largest, most colorful and exciting cultural event.
The 2012 event will include a wide range of traditional and contemporary visual and performing arts – music, dance, oratory and story telling, theatre and film, handicrafts, literature, tattooing, fire walking, culinary arts, navigation and canoeing, fashion, photography and healing.
