Merger to save K4m

 By EMILY HOKO

THE amalgamation of the National Cultural Commission and the National Museum will save the Government K4 million, according to Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Justin Tkatchenko.

“For many years, we have had a set up where there too many chiefs and not many Indians. We want more Indians to do the work for us and get the work done,” Tkatchenko said.

He has written to the Department of Public Service and the heads of the National Cultural Commission and the National Museum to abolish the National Cultural Commission.

“This is because I feel there is duplication involved. It’s also an NEC decision that we must amalgamate departments that will be more productive and efficient,” he said. He said culture and tradition were important and the National Museum was handling that.

“We estimate we can save at least K4 million a year by bringing the two departments together,” Tkatchenko said.

“This does not change the department at all, or the hierarchy of the national museum or the management. 

“But the union of the two departments will enhance the work of the director and the National Museum of Art Gallery.”

He suggested that the amalgamated bodies could be called the National Museum of Arts and Culture. 

“That the big beast that has been created,” he said. 

“The National Cultural Commission would be slimmed down dramatically and incorporated into the Museum, Arts and Culture.”