In a
statement, the chairman for Western Province Festival of Pacific Arts Committee
Chris Mesipitu said it is disappointing to learn that with a possible
interruption denying the Western Province a full disbursement of funds, all the
hard work and determination put into projects for the upcoming festival could
very much be in vain.
He said
any chances of having half payments of funds may end with a half done program.
“We
don’t want to stop working, we want to make sure we can finish the job,” the
chairman said.
WPFPAC
received $2 million from FOPA and was assured a smooth sail through the
operations of the two weeks festival next month.
A
budget of $4.7 million was submitted to the government and through FOPA it was
agreed that fifty percent would be released according to the statement made by
the chairman.
But
with only days left before the opening of the festival, concerns are being
raised about the financial capacity of the committee to fully carryout
preparations which is currently a critical issue.
It says
in the previous weeks WPFPAC had re-launched an application to FOPA acquiring
additional funds and despite several requests they have yet to receive a reply.
Current
work being done is exhausting what little the committee was able to gather
through fundraising, and the committee is thankful to business houses,
individuals and members of the provincial government who have and continue to
show their support.
The
statement further added that in the last few months WPFPAC has reduced every
project work in hope of creating the best outcome possible without applying
anymore pressure on its already financially strained position.
Considering
the time limit it has because of Western Province delay in initiating festival
projects due to previous issues, Gizo satellite venue preparations are on
schedule but with almost a million dollars in pledges yet to be paid the
situation may well become significantly crippled.
Mr
Mesipitu said if current projects do become incomplete it would not only be an
embarrassment to the people of Western Province and its committee, but it would
also reflect our national capacity in facilitating such events.
“WPFPAC and the people of Western Province in support of our national interest can only hope any decision made will result in restoring the confidence in Gizo satellite venue preparations, as we getting closer to the 11th arts festival.”
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