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Organisers of the 2009 Miss South Pacific Pageant are urging the Pacific Islands communities in Fiji to construct floats for their respective queens as the hype builds up for the much-anticipated annual regional spectacle.
The MSPP event’s secretary Aqela Cakobau said they are also calling on islanders to man their country’s booths at Albert Park, which will be the centre of the festivities.
“There will be 11 booths at the Arts Village, each representing a country that will be part of the pageant. These booths will have the sales and display of arts and crafts from around the Pacific. We’re asking the Pacific Islanders that are currently residing in Fiji to come out and help put together their booth and to construct a float for their contestant,” she said.
Organizers hope to make the week-long event, beginning this Saturday, “bigger and better”.
“Preparations are well underway to turn Albert Park into a mini South Pacific village- a place where all things from the Pacific will be showcased,” said Cakobau.
The final touches are being put on the newly renovated Albert Park pavilion, which is expected to accommodate more than 400 guests.
Food stalls are also in place and at least one has begun spewing out sweet barbecue aromas to the nearby Government Buildings, while carnival ride operators started setting up yesterday.
“We’re grateful to the sponsors, Pacific Builders Solution, for their help in putting up tents and structures to house the event. They’ve also completed the newly renovated pavilion which has been extended to accommodate the guests, “said Cakobau.
“We’re having the final rehearsal for the lighting and sound equipment today and we’re aiming for the entire site to be ready by tomorrow afternoon.”
Besides the excitement of the rides and food stalls, Cakobau highlighted that the cultural entertainment and sporting competition is also something to look forward to.
“There is always something for everyone; we have the cultural activities and entertainment happening during the day while the sport event will be hosted in the evening to give time to business houses to be part of the activities.
“All these will be hosted in three venues, which is the PBS Tent, Arts Village and Sports Arena.”
Organizers of the pageant signed a deal with Fiji Television last week to provide comprehensive live coverage of the event on Fiji TV and Sky Pacific to 11 million viewers in Fiji and from the around the Pacific while online sponsors FijiLive has designed the website www.misssouthpacificfiji.com.
“The site has important information such as contestant profiles, online voting and layout map of the event venue and visitors from the around the world can excess the site for the latest update of the event,” said Cakobau.
The final of the Dragon Music Pacific Has Talent competition will be held during the pageant with the top 10 finalist entertaining the crowd on Tuesday, November 24.
Also during the carnival will be the final draw of the PBS texting promotion, where the winner will claim a two bedroom house valued at $75000.
Meanwhile, two contestants are already in the country - Miss French Polynesia, Aruhoia Biret and Miss Tuvalu, Akelita Marisa Pesega.
Miss Samoa, Tusisaleia Hope Pomele and Miss Solomon Islands, Millicent Barty, are expected to arrive tomorrow morning.
The rest of the contestants are expected to arrive on Thursday.
The opening ceremony for the pageant this Saturday will also include the raising of flags for each of the countries represented.
