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Budget woes scuttle NMI participation in FestPac
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Posted on Apr 10 2008
The CNMI will not be able to participate in 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in Pago Pago, American Samoa, in July this year due to budget constraints.
This was announced yesterday in a statement issued by the Fitial administration and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs to local artists.
The Northern Marianas had participated in the last nine Festival of Pacific Arts, wholly funded by CNMI General Funds.
Melvin O. Faisao, acting Secretary of the DCCA, under which the CNMI Council for Arts and Culture exists, said: “In as much as we would like our local artisans to continue being represented in the highly acclaimed FestPac to showcase the unique cultures and people of the Northern Marianas, fiscal constraints require prudent management decisions like this to preserve the long term general welfare of our community. Our non-participation at this year’s FestPac means that we must plan ahead in advance and undertake a community-wide approach to raising the needed funds to ensure our future participation.“
Arts Council Executive Director Cecilia T. Celes added: “We must acknowledge the stark financial reality precipitated by the onslaught and decline of economic activities as a result of the closure and imminent demise of the once lucrative apparel textile and the slower than expected rebound of the volatile tourism industry. Equally important, we hope our people appreciate our painful efforts to prioritize critical public services in line with renewed call to exercise restraint, frugality, and prudence in our public expenditures.”
The 10th Festival of Pacific Arts is being held in American Samoa from July 20 to Aug. 2, 2008, and is expected to attract over 2,000 participants and thousands of visitors. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]
