Culture minister thanks all

Caption: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Boka Kondra

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, July 20, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

EXACTLY a week since the closing of the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture, the minister responsible Boka Kondra thanked everyone that assisted in the staging of the event, with a special word of thanks going out to spectators who he said took ownership of the regional event.

He said that the reception and hospitality of the country and its people were of such that many of the delegates left the country’s shores in tears.

“When I first went public on our hosting of the event, I made a call for our people to receive our guest with open arms and so we did,” the minister said.

“We gave them such a good time that when we farewell them, many of them left our shores with tears and I want to say a very big thank you to everyone.”

“I would like to also thank the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his government and all the MPs that stood with us taking ownership during the festivities.”

He also thanked the chairman of the festival Dr Jacob Simet and his staff for their tireless efforts and also the volunteers and service providers that took care of the needs of the visiting delegates and provincial groups.

“I would also like to give a special thank you to all the satellite venues and their respective provincial and local level governments,” Kondra said.

“Thanks also to the schools and institutes that accommodated our delegate and provincial groups like the Institute of Public Administration, Boreboa Primary, Wardstrip Primary, Laloki High and Gordon Secondary and the University of Papua New Guinea.”

Special mention was also made by the minister towards the police and media for both providing security and publicity for the event.