Preparation for the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam has kicked off with a ground-breaking ceremony at the multi-million dollar venue to be.
Transcript
Preparation for the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam has kicked off with a ground-breaking ceremony at the multi-million dollar venue-to-be.
The Paseo de Susana Park will feature 34 permanent huts which we started last week.
The Chair of the Committee on Municipal Affairs, Tourism, Housing and Historic Preservation is Senator Tina Muna-Barnes.
Ms Muna-Barnes told Koro Vaka'uta the beginning of construction marks an exciting time for the island.
TINA MUNA-BARNES: We will be receiving 27 nations coming to our beautiful island of Guam to celebrate in the 12th festival of the arts we will be expecting more than 2700 participants with over 10,000 tourists from the different nations coming to see us and we are just truly excited this will be the first time that Guam will be hosting what we would call the Olympic of the arts and we are just truly excited and we just want to say that as we look at preparing for coming together it would be a symbolism of commitment for our generation to share in the gift of tradition and culture from all the island nations. And to strengthen the values of our customs and to be able to share in the spirit of who we are as an island people, as Chamorros. But more importantly it is very exciting for Guam.
KORO VAKA UTA: We have had the ground breaking at the Paseo venue tell us a little bit about what is happening there with the construction and the venue there?
TMB: The construction just got underway we had a groundbreaking ceremony which would truly realise the strength and the foundation of our generation coming together as one. This building will play a significant part, these huts will play a significant part of our different cultures coming together and sharing in the similarities of cultures and traditions. Truly strengthening the value of our customs.
KV: And of course with all good things there is always a cost involved, What is the cost with the Pacific Arts festival village there at the Paseo?
TMB: It has has been slated to be at 13 million dollars. Six million coming from the government of Guam and private corporate sponsorships and seven million from in kind support. The huts that will be built will cost about one point nine million dollars.
KV: There are benefits tangible benefits to hosting such an event?
TMB: Definitely the utilisation of the huts that will be used after the festival will be used to bring vendors and the community and the villages together to utilise those huts to promote their artefacts their merchandise as we continue to have our tourists and our visitors who come to visit us come to a place that they can look at all artefacts and our craft.
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