Tkatchenko was right to call for an audit

 I SUPPORT Minister Justin Tkatchenko’s call for an audit into the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture.

I was disappointed and amazed from the beginning with the setting up and staging of the festival till the end.

Why was there unnecessary movement of dancers around Port Moresby venues?

It only causes confusion and delays the programmes. 

The outside venues also were not colorfully staged. 

People want to watch all the performances at one location.

In that way, it gives you the opportunity to come back if you miss the first performance or show. 

In addition, two or more stages should have been built at the main venue for staging cultural dances from bands.

As soon as you walk or drive into the cultural village at Waigani, it is totally dead. 

You do not have a feeling as if you are entering a Melanesia festival. 

The sales of food in the main venue were very disappointing for the commission to allow sales of non-traditional foods at the venues. 

People should have been given the opportunity to taste local dishes from all regions. 

A proper food restaurant should have been a part of the programme selling local dishes from all regions. 

Dr Simet cannot state in the media that they were only planning for only a few people. 

Are you trying to tell the people of PNG and our Melanesia friends that you had no contingency plans to deal with such issues? 

What a childish statement.

For the commission to deny and to ignore responsibility of early arrival of the Fiji‘s contingent was shameful. 

That is why you plan your programmes so that you can receive participating members accordingly. 

The festival was marred from the beginning as these indicated the commission was not properly organised.

Changing venues for the closing ceremony was a blunder and a waste of time. 

It took more time to end the programme which never really showcased PNG‘s staging of the event.

What a K20 million difference it would have been if these points were critically analysed by the organising committee.

Please investigate to see how much was actually spent on the festival.

It is also interesting to see how much was paid as allowance.

J Micheals

Port Moresby