Kondra: No need for fighting over festival

 THERE is no need for fighting among government ministers over the success and failure of the Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Boka Kondra says.

He said on Friday that he would not be drawn into a public battle with National Events Minister, Justin Tkatchenko, who last week disparaged the festival as an “international embarrassment” and that he would be interested to see a thorough audit of the K20 million-plus that was expended.

Kondra said reports on the festival itself and an audit of all finances would be made available to the National Executive Council as soon as possible.

He could not confirm whether the festival cost K20 million, K29 million or K34 million to stage.

“That has to be confirmed by the administration because funding came in at different times,” Kondra said.

“We will only advise when everything is put together, otherwise I may give you a number that is not correct.

“We will have our reporting done when everything is put together.”