PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (December 28, 1998 - Post-Courier)---The year 1998, had been a tough one where natural disasters and general down turn in the economy had placed enormous challenges for Papua New Guineans, Prime Minister Bill Skate has said.
He said the drought and its effects stayed with the people for many months and the nation suffered as a result.
And that misery in life was shattered further by the Aitape tidal wave, which claimed thousands of lives and left hundreds homeless, besides destruction to villages and property along the Sissano Lagoon area in Aitape, West Sepik Province.
"Only our strong community spirit and generosity of our overseas neighbors prevented a real disaster and loss of life from occurring in our home,'' he said.
Skate said the tidal wave was the worst in living memory.
"A giant wall of water destroyed whole communities and killed so many Papua New Guineans,'' he said.
Mr. Skate, in his Christmas...