BSP renews canoe festival sponsorship

BANK South Pacific has renewed its three-year sponsorship of Milne Bay’s National Canoe and Kundu festival.
The sponsorship package will begin next year.
BSP chief operating officer Robert Logia said BSP was one of the leading entities in supporting community initiatives, projects and programmes in Papua New Guinea.
“It is important that participants, visitors and the community leave with the commitment to preserving these unique cultures and traditions.
“BSP is supporting these and many other festivals that promote and encourage the preservation of this traditional knowledge for the benefit of future generations.”
Logia said beginning next year, the banker would increase its support from K75,000 to K85,000 a year.
Festival committee chairman Peter Tarumuri said each year was turning out to be a logistical nightmare as more and more islanders within the province expressed their interest to participate.
Both sailing and war canoes from Milne Bay such as the sailaus, falais, kukakukas, lopos, gebos, and nagegas will again be on display this year.
The launch heralded the start of preparations to the festival to be staged from Nov 2-4.
A corporate cocktail night was also organised on Saturday evening where the festival’s new logo was unveiled, which now meant a new brand and identity for the festival.