A total of 21 carvings by members of the Nawita Association of Vanuatu Contemporary Artists were handed over for the Vanuatu Tourism Infrastructure Project (VTIP) in Port Vila Friday afternoon
at a ceremony at the Vanuatu Kaljerol Senta (VKS) in Port Vila.
At the short ceremony, the carvings were handed over by the representatives of the artists, Sepeta James of Tongoa, to the President of the Nawita Association, Sero Kuaotonga, who in turned formally handed over the carvings to the Government of Vanuatu representing the partners in the beautification project of Port Vila.
The director of the Department of Tourism, George Borugu, represented the Minister for Tourism and Deputy Prime Minister, Joe Natuman to accept the items.
He said it was always the dream of the government and stakeholders in tourism to make Port Vila look and feel a truly Vanuatu city by visitors arriving by ships or planes “because what you see and touch will represent the culture of Vanuatu”.
“It is the intention of the Ministry of Tourism that the design of our buildings, the planning and landscaping of our city must reflect the culture of our country,” he added, “we must integrate this culture into urban planning so that it become a unique city on the Pacific, and it becomes a part of our living in Port Vila city.”
Borugu said the use of the carvings in the project is part of the integration of the Vanuatu culture into the beautification of Port Vila city and they will be put up in the Seafront Promenade area.
Kuaotonga expressed the gratitude of his members that the VTIP engaged the contribution of the Nawita Association and its talented artists on carving in the project which will beautify the seafront of Port Vila.
The New Zealand Government contributed VT1.2 billion toward the Vanuatu Tourism Infrastructure Project and a representative of the NZ High Commission in Port Vila, Kathrun Beckett — the Development Counsellor, and representing consultant Beca, Alastair McNabb, the engineers’ representative and representative of the constructors – Hawkins, Susan Temple, Project Manager witnessed the occasion.
The Manager of the Vanuatu Project Management Unit, Johnson Wabaiat, was also present.
A special ceremony was performed by a representative of the Chief of Ifira, Kalpovi Mangawai, to the head carver Sepeta James for a special carving originally belonging to Ifira that has been kept with the people of Tongoa when they left Efate and went to Tongoa, according to Sepeta James.
The total value of the carvings paid to the carvers was Vt675,865, which is Vt32,185 for each carving. Ten artists altogether worked over the last three months to complete the carving that will be part of the VTIP as it is entering advanced stages towards completion.
