Host Minister visits Cultural Village

Following complaints from vendors and artisans participating in the Cultural
Village mounted within the SIDS4 compound of the American University of
Antigua (AUA), Foreign Affairs Minister, E.P Chet Greene, under whose portfolio
hosting the conference falls, paid a visit to the village on Wednesday.
The minister said he sees it as his responsibility to visit the Cultural Village to see
what the artists and crafts people had on display but also to show solidarity to them
and to let them know that they too are important in the overall hosting of the
conference.
More than one hundred and thirteen countries, several of the agencies associated
with the United Nations and other observers are represented here at the Fourth
International Conference of Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) which ends
today.
The Cultural Village was established to be that place where souvenir items to
include, arts, craft, jewelry and paintings as well as local food and music were put
on display for the benefit of the thousands of delegates and observers.
Reports are that business has been slow for the people at the Cultural Village and
the minister said he wanted to show that he heard their complaints and wanted to
do something positive to change the situation.
According to the latest reports, the organisers arranged for buggies to transport
delegates to the Cultural Village and back and this moved has helped to generate
more business.
With Thursday being the final day of the event, expected to end earlier than the
other days, organisers are hoping that delegates will use the opportunity to browse
in the Cultural Village and to patronize the vendors and crafts people.