Commission in debt: Board

 THE National Cultural Commission has no money to pay a K15 million debt owed to service providers during the Melanesian Festival of Arts in 2014, board member Wilson Thompson says.

“The NCC is also looking for money to settle the K15 million in debts to schools and catering companies for the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture hosted by PNG in 2014. 

The schools are the Institute of Public Administration, In-service College, Boreboa and Wardstrip Primary schools and Gordon Secondary School.

“Also, the Pacific Festival of Arts (to be held in Guam) is in June 2016 and no funds were allocated for the Papua New Guinea contingent as we remain the biggest Pacific country and our participation is paramount,” he said. 

“We started laying off casual staff two fortnights ago at headquarters. We have asked the Institute of PNG Studies, National Film and Television Institute and National Performing Arts troupe to lay off security officers, drivers and cleaners.

“We are in the process of identifying casual and unattached staff for redeployment and also to retrench and retire some. 

“We are also looking at ways to rebuild or maintain the Raun Raun Theatre Building in Goroka which was condemned by authorities last November 2015 as well as fund and build the film studio and equipment that was burnt down in Goroka.

“The famous Institute of PNG Studies in the centre of Boroko will be condemned shortly due to lack of maintenance.”

Thompson welcomed the Government’s decision to review the operations of the National Cultural Commission.