Patron of the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant PNG, Lynda Babao-O’Neill, would like to see the pageant get more support.
She says the pageant has done a lot, especially for young women in the country, through scholarship funding and shaping them to be cultural ambassadors.
“The funding that is given goes to scholarship for young ladies who are finding it difficult to financially complete their tertiary qualification. So it’s wonderful but I think the more sponsors we have, the more girls we will look after.
“And I also feel that this pool of very intelligent women must be utilised, especially after their reign or after their term.
“These are assets, these women are fantastic; they are great ambassadors for the country and particularly for the tourism industry. They should be used as ambassadors for many of the things that go on here, like the festivals.
“I’d like to see them as the face of our country, because they are our country,” Ms Babao-O’Neill said.
This has also been recognised by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, Tobias Kulang, who announced the tourism ministry’s intention to partner with the pageant.
He revealed during the crowning of the Miss Pacific Islands PNG on Saturday that the parties will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to establish formal government support going forward.
“Cultural ambassador is important and this provides international platform for that ambassador to go and talk about the culture, display our culture.
“The government is recognising that through the ministry,” Minister Kulang said.