The Solomon Island Artist Association (SIAA) is unhappy with the selection done by the committee formed by ministry of culture and tourism (MCT) for participants to attend the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture in Papua New Guinea (PNG) next month.
The association’s president Bani Rooney in an interview yesterday described the selection as unfair and of favouritism.
Mr Rooney said this is because the committee did not get any recommendation from association but the committee members themselves.
“SIAA is an association formed and recognised by government which should have been involved in the selection process by making recommendations of participants according to their skills and talents.
“But what happened here is that the committee made its own recommendations without involving my executive members,” he said.
He claimed the association was never informed about a meeting to select participants.
He said the association knows exactly which are the right weavers, shell money makers and artists that can able to best showcase this country during this event.
Meanwhile the president wishes the final 10 participants all the best in their show in PNG.
Attempts to get the director of culture John Tahinao for comments yesterday were unsuccessful since he is currently out of the country.
Its understood this is the lowest number of participants the country is sending to participate in this event.
In the past Melanesian arts festival in Fiji and New Caledonia few years ago are good number of participants were sent.
By DENVER NEWTER
