Arts, crafts can benefit: Sape

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Friday February 27th, 2015

 THE local arts and crafts sector should complement the sale of merchandise during the Pacific Games, Papua New Guinea Women in Business director Janet Sape says.

She said this was a great opportunity for small businesses and cottage industries to benefit from the large numbers of visitors that will be in the city over the course of the Games. 

Sape said having that in mind, she was planning to host a major exhibition for Women in Business during the event from July 1-19. “I am an athlete myself and I have participated in past Pacific Games,” Sape said.

The former national netball captain said she expected the sale of cultural items such as bilums, caps, artifacts, ornaments and traditional ‘bilas’ as many athletes and visitors would want souvenirs and a piece of PNG to remember the 15th Pacific Games by.

She said it would provide arts and craft makers opportunities and she hoped the city authorities would include these people in their plans.  “We hope to use the Melanesian Festival village stands at the National Museum to host our major expo in July,” Sape said.

“It will be a promotion of PNG culture as well as a business opportunity.

“The athletes from around the Pacific can come to the stalls and see some of our culture and take away some souvenirs,” Sape said.

Sape is a former captain — and later coach — of the national netball team.  She retired from playing netball in 1989 and commentated at the netball competition at the 1991 South Pacific Games in Port Moresby. 

In 1995 Games, Sape coached the national team to a silver medal. 

“I’m pleased to see that some experienced players like Gamini Koroka and others have been called into the Pepes squad for the Games. 

“They will blend well with new players to give us a chance of winning a medal,” Sape said.