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Jack Kauwi of Wewok Village, E-Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, shows his carvings of face masks on sale at the PNG stall during the Melanesian Arts Festival in Suva

A member of the Papua New Guinea delegation who collapsed during the opening ceremony of the Melanesian Arts Festival has recovered and returned to his contingent.

The leader of the PNG delegation, John Malai confirmed that the man started developing high fever during the ceremony on Tuesday night. He was taken by ambulance to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, where he was admitted.

Another man a member of the Vanuatu team also collapsed after he was dehydrated.

Yesterday's rainy weather forced organisers to close the Melanesian Festival Village exhibition area at the Suva foreshore.

Exhibitors had to sell their wares from marquees that were later built at the Civic car park, where Fijian exhibitors were also located.

Rana Orapa, who was in charge of selling bilums (bags) at the Papua New Guinea shed, said the rain was their greatest concern.

"We had to bring all our wares here because of the rain and the muddy ground,"Mrs Orapa said.

"Most people do not come up to the exhibition site because of the mud. It is much better here as most people are coming in during their lunch hour to buy food and at the same time look around in our stalls,"she said.

"Sales was not good on the first few days but people are starting to come out now and we are hoping to sell as many wares as possible during the festival."

Mrs Orapa said vine baskets and woodcarvings were crowd favourites.

Solomon artist Brad Tuvega said while the location of their stall was not a problem it was the heavy ground condition that was affecting sales.

"It would have been beautiful if the sun was up, we would have had a great day here with our sales,"he said.

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