FOPA COSTS $195-M FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS: MANETOALI
MP for Gao Bugotu and Culture Minister, Honourable Samuel Manetoali. Photo credit: SIBC.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Samuel Manetoali has confirmed the country had spent about $195 million to host the 2012 11th Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) in Honiara.
Responding to questions from MP for Central Guadalcanal Peter Channel in Parliament today, on the total spending of FOPA, Mr Manetoali says the country had spent about $195 million for the event.
“In relation to the first part of the question, the amount would be roughly about $195 million. That was the total amount.”
The Minister adds, his Ministry has no records on the auctioning of FOPA items since all proceeds has gone and paid through the Ministry of Finance.
“When the properties were sold through auction all the proceeds went to the Ministry of Finance. They were not paid to our Ministry and we couldn’t have a record for that Mr Speaker, thank you.”
He said the reason for the amount is due to extra claims apart from the original budget to host the festival.