Arts Festival Group Rejects University Of Hawaii Proposal
Read online at Pacific Magazine
By Fili Sagapolutele in Pago Pago
Thursday: December 20, 2007
University of Hawaii official Papali’i Dr. Tusi Avegalio said the 10th Pacific Arts Festival organizing committee in American Samoa has turned down a UH proposal for two Ph.D. students to work as interns on the committee’s website.
“We offered our students as a resource, to provide the committee with many expertise. But apparently the committee had a specific agenda and turn down our proposal,” said Avegalio, who is the director of UH’s Pacific Business Center Program (PBCP).
Organizing committee co-chair Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde said last Friday that while committee appreciates the UH proposal but it was not cost effective and not affordable to them.
“When we received the proposal, we reviewed it and weigh the costs versus benefits, we decided that it cost too much for the purposes of what we need,” said Fagafaga. “UH offered us a service and I wish we could have utilized their service but it was not cost effective for us.”
Fagafaga said the committee is reviewing two other proposals for the website and will make an official announcement soon as to who will be contracted for the project.
Avegalio said this week that the proposal was a draft and covered air fare and per diem, including lodging and meals and other expenses. And if the work of the interns generates revenue for the committee, UH proposed taking a commission on the revenue raised.
“The students can provide quality service to the region including American Samoa,” said Avegalio in a telephone interview from Honolulu.
“Rather then waiting for money, we use creativity to expand the support and technical reach of our program to help regional clients, many who can't afford it,” said Avegalio.
During last month’s meeting of the local business community and Festival organizers, one of the issues raised concerned keeping the festival’s website up to date with information on planning, venues, accommodations and immigration policies.
Fagafaga agreed, saying that this will make it easy for participants, visitors, media and others to keep up to date with developments.
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