PNG officials question need for large entourage
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, July 31, 2008) – Concerns have been raised about a big ministerial delegation on an official trip to Sarawak, Malaysia, this week led by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.
Government officials and non-government organisations questioned what a high-powered, 25-member party was doing there when it was only to seal a Wewak-Sarawak sister-city relationship.
The delegation, apart from Sir Michael, includes Planning Minister Paul Tiensten, Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch, Bougainville Regional MP Fidelis Semoso, Sandaun Administrator Joseph Sungi and Central Provincial Administrator Raphael Yibma-ramba to name a few.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday night, during the dinner hosted to welcome the PNG delegation, Sir Michael urged investors from Sarawak, which already has a presence in Papua New Guinea’s timber industry, to explore investment potentials in PNG, which enjoyed a...