SALE of tickets for the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) Crowning Night on Saturday 8 February at the Friendship Hall has commenced yesterday.
A General Admission ticket for an adult is sold for $200, while a General Admission ticket for a child costs $100. The General Admission tickets do not include dinner.
A VIP ticket costs $1,000 and it covers both the show and dinner. A VIP table is assigned to10 guests per table. A total of 50 VIP tables are planned for the event.
Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Director Joyce Konofilia said for the General Admission, there is limit of 1,500 seats and there will be no reprinting of tickets.
“This year, it’s about ensuring that we sell tickets, but we will also ensure that the space and everything is comfortable for everyone to enjoy the show.
“Thus, once tickets are sold out, that’s it,” Ms Konofilia said.
There are a total of 1,500 seats at the Friendship Hall.
Solomon Host, which holds the right to host the event on behalf of Solomon Islands Government and people, will host the event under a Public-Private Sector partnership with the Government.
The Government, however, will be footing the major part of the bill for the delivery of the event.
Ms Konofilia assured that they were hoping that they would not be selling tickets that much if they have the right budget.
“But considering our situation, now we have to do something because we will be paying the MPIP Secretariat money from the gate takings as well. That’s the policy.
“So, that is why we are selling tickets at that price, just to cover the costs for the crowing night and some of the costs that we anticipate,” she added.
The pageant will run from Sunday 2 February to Saturday 8 February.
The seven pageants of the seven other countries to participate in the event, apart from Solomon Islands, will be arriving in Honiara on January 30 and 31. They are:
- 1. Miss American Samoa, Pauliana Felise-Vitale;
- 2. Miss Kiribati, Kimberly Tokanang;
- 3. Miss Papua New Guinea, May Torrowi Hasola,
- 4. Miss Samoa, Litara Ieremia-Allan;
- 5. Miss Tonga Racheal Guttenbeil;
- 6. Miss Nauru, Charlei Andrianna Deiye
- 7. Miss Cook Islands, Ngatepaeru Maoate.
Miss Solomon Islands is Elsie Polosovai whom Ms Konofilia said is preparing well for her representation of the host country at the event.
The reigning Miss Pacific Islands, Moemoana Schwenke will be in Honiara as well with the MPIP Secretariat officials to provide support and advise on the judging criteria.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
