American Samoa
Preparing To Perform
Pacific Arts Festival Organizers Have A Ways To Go
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| Canoeists paddle in to Palau as part of the opening of the 2004 Pacific Arts Festival. PHOTO: Bruce Southwick/ZoomFiji |
The challenges facing American Samoa’s economy are numerous. While the economy continues to be dependent on two fish canneries and U.S. federal subsidies, efforts to broaden the economic base through other ventures have been slow.
But federal and local government officials hope the territory’s hosting of the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts next July will help boost the territory’s nascent tourism industry, showcase Samoan culture and possibly entice new investments.
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American Samoa will be the first U.S. Pacific territory to host the festival. Lauti Simona, executive director of the local office for the 10th Festival of the Pacific Arts says, “We expect to see between 1,500 to 2,000 participants from the region from July 20 to August 2, 2008.”
The current budget to host the festival is currently $5.1 million with about $2 million to be requested from the U.S Department of Interior; $2 million from the federal National Endowment for the Arts; and $1.5 million from the local government. That budget was revised downwards by $1 million, with the scaling back of salaried staff to be employed on the project and a slow response from arts foundations in the United States.
Simona says his office has so far received a $2,000 contribution from an off-island foundation, and that corporate contributions and sponsors are also being sought.
A measure passed in the Fono at the end of March seeking $20 million for a government loan from the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund includes the local government’s share of the festival budget along with other infrastructure allocations. The loan replaces bond legislation submitted and rejected by the Legislature three times in the past 18 months.
The loan bill set the interest rate at 7.5 percent. Repayment of the loan will come from a percentage of existing excise tax collected on beer and malt; alcoholic beverages; tobacco products and all of the revenues collected from the Customs Entry Declarations Forms Process Fee.
Meanwhile, a measure passed by the American Samoa Senate has also imposed a 10 cents tax on imported bottled water with the money earmarked for the Arts Festival.
Funding for the festival would end on Dec. 31, 2008 and thereafter taxes collected will be re-allocated for other government services.
This plan has elicited calls for caution. The Department of Interior’s recent Private Sector Assessment for American Samoa said imposition of customs and tariffs in the territory puts American Samoa at a disadvantage compared to other Pacific Island nations, which are joining regional trade groups and eliminating such barriers. It suggests a Value Added Tax be considered instead.
Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs David Cohen says the DOI’s Office of Insular Affairs had a couple of different programs that could be used to provide some financial support for the festival. Cohen had asked Simona to work with Governor Togiola Tulafono to submit specific grant requests, “and we will definitely consider them.”
“The Pacific Arts Festival should provide a short-term economic shot in the arm for American Samoa, and if it’s handled correctly, it could help build the foundation for a stronger tourism industry for years to come,” says Cohen.
The formal involvement of the American Samoan Visitors Association with the festival is yet to be finalized. However informally, hoteliers and other tourism service providers say they’re excited about the income the festival will provide.
Palau hosted the last Pacific Arts Festival in 2004. Funding for the Palau festival included a $25,000 donation and $1 million loan from the Bank of Hawaii. Grants from Taiwan, the European Union, Japan Foundation, French government, and UNESCO were also received, along with corporate and private sponsorships.The 16 States also donated food, supplies and many hours of labor to make the Festival happen.The initial budget for that festival was $4 million.
The Director of the Belau Museum and Arts Festival Committee member Faustina K. Rehuher says around $1 million was spent by visitors to the festival in 2004, and visitor arrivals for that year were approximately 90,000.
Simona doesn’t anticipate any problems accommodating performers, artists and other delegates—a problem that neighboring Samoa is now grappling with as it prepares to host the South Pacific Games in August.
Simona says several churches have offered their facilities to assist the organizing committee, while hotels on island will be reserved for VIPs and heads of state. Organizers also want to promote the Samoan culture by having visitors stay with local families.
The Pacific Arts Festival village will be set up at the Samoana High School campus (located in the town area), with the high school’s gymnasium used for several events. The Lee Auditorium, located next to the high school will be the main headquarters for festival meetings and symposiums, said Lauti.
In preparation for the festival, Governor Togiola has directed all government departments and agencies to continue to clean up their environment and surroundings. And the health department, LBJ Hospital and local organizing committee are working on a plan to manage health issues around the festival—in Palau these included treating dengue and malaria patients. A bill now pending in the Fono will establish a new Public Health Law for American Samoa, and create the American Samoa Emergency Powers Act.
Although the festival is only a year away, in March House Vice Speaker, Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo asked whether American Samoa is in a position to cancel the festival at this point if there is not enough financial support.
Simona said the organizing committee has no plans to cancel hosting the festival because American Samoa has worked long and hard to bring this regional event to the territory.
But that work has only just begun, as American Samoa enters the critical period for pulling off a logistically smooth and successful Festival of the Arts.
-Additional reporting by David Miho in Palau
