This moratorium has been declared in response to growing concerns about the increasing distortion of this traditional ceremony due to growing commercialisation...
The Vanuatu Cultural Centre, the institution mandated to regulate commercial filming of cultural subjects in Vanuatu under section 6(2)(l) of the ‘Vanuatu National Cultural Council’ act (chapter 186 of the Laws of the Republic of Vanuatu) has declared a moratorium or ban on all commercial filming by foreign film companies of the Nagol or Pentecost land dive ceremony, effective from the 1st of January 2006.
This moratorium has been declared in response to growing concerns about the increasing distortion of this traditional ceremony due to growing commercialisation and about the lack of transparency in the distribution of fees paid by foreign film companies to communities to film this event.
This moratorium has been declared after consultation with chiefs, community leaders and the Member of Parliament for South Pentecost.
The Vanuatu Cultural Centre is calling upon the National Tourism Development Office, the Vanuatu Tourism Office and all relevant tour operators to work together with the Cultural Centre and the chiefs and communities of South Pentecost to develop a proper long-term management plan for the Nagol ceremony, to ensure that its cultural meaning is not lost, the customary knowledge associated with it continues to be transmitted to younger generations, the bush resources required to build the Nagol towers are preserved and the significant cash revenues earned from tourism and other commercial activities associated with the Nagol are properly chanelled into appropriate and sustainable development for the communities of the area.
The Cultural Centre is advocating for the establishment of a further two associations of customary owners of the Nagol, along the lines of the Ponwaha Development Association already set up by residents of Point Cross, Ponof, Wanur and Harop villages, in order to provide a structure through which all the customary owners of the Nagol can be represented. It is only through such a structure that proper management of the Nagol can begin to be implemented. Furthermore, the existence of a distinct entity representing all custom owners of the Nagol is an essential prerequisite for any claim for Intellectual Property Rights or Moral Rights over the multi-million dollar “bungy jumping” industry to be successful.
Further information can be obtained by contacting Jacob Kapere, Head of the National Film and Sound Unit at the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, on email: vks@vanuatu.com.vu or tel: (678) 22129 or fax: (678) 26590
