THE two-day Melanesian Spearhead Group 6th Council of Arts and Culture Meeting ended on a high note yesterday.

The 6th CACM was hosted by Solomon Islands gathering Melanesian brothers and sisters from the five Melanesian countries in the region.

In an interview with the PS of the MCT and the current chair to the 6th CACM, Mr Andrew Nihopara, he said within the two days’ meeting the council had very fruitful discussions regarding issues of arts, culture and heritage within the MSG.

He said some areas discussed looked at zooming down some of the issue that are still outstanding on arts and culture within the MSG.

Adding that the purpose is to meet some global framework such as UNESCO framework and conventions where the countries need to ratify in order to strengthen the cultural aspects within the MSG countries.

“They are not really new issue, but for the last two days we discussed ways forwards on how Melanesia as a sub-region will advances our processes to meet the requirements of the UNESCO conventions.

“One area discussed is strengthening the protection magnesium that will protect our artists and cultures and the heritages within the Melanesia,” he said.

Mr Nihopara also said that emerged from the two days fruitful discussions, there are action points the council will work towards their implementations within the next two or three months.

However, he said Solomon Islands to host the 6th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival next year after hosting the event 20 years back.

“And it comes to our turn in the cycle to host the festival and invite our Melanesian brothers and sisters in the region to our shores.

“Perhaps, take a step further to host the 6th Melanesian Festival is one agenda that is really matter to Solomon Islands and we updated our Melanesian brothers and sisters on.

“The update we give our Melanesian brothers and sisters attending the council meeting is at least to put in some infrastructure and some processes that will be in a longer term.

“We won’t just focus on hosting the event, but after the event we’ll have some infrastructure in place where it can strengthen our cultural industry,” he said.

Mr Nihopara said while hosting the event the country also need to look into long term, the impacts or the legacy of hosting the event will sustain for the people in Solomon Islands.