Outgoing Papua New Guinea Health Minister Slams Australian Foreign Minister Over Cuban Doctors

July 9, 2007 9:40 p.m. EST

Richard Bowden - AHN News Writer
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (AHN) - Outgoing Papua New Guinea (PNG) Health Minister Peter Barter has slammed Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer over his letter to the PNG government which voiced opposition to the country's plan to import Cuban doctors to resolve its doctor shortage. Barter, who will leave politics after this month's elections, said he believed it was inappropriate of Downer to raise such objections.

Saying to reporters Monday he felt the letter to be "totally out of place," Barter said, "We just wrote back and said, 'Really it's our concern whether we bring Cuban doctors'."

The letter, which was forwarded to the PNG government last year when the issue was first raised through the Australian High Commission in the PNG capital Port Moresby, said that to employ the doctors would create instability in the region.

A delegation will leave PNG next week for Havana, Cuba to select the first batch of 20 doctors.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007863657

The news has been splashed all over Australia. Quite sad really. And yet they don't want to promote PNG as a tourist destination.

They are concerned about stablity. We need doctors in rural areas.

Enough of this neo-colonialsm and cold war attitudes.

I wonder why foreign affairs minister of another country would directly write a letter to a minister in another portfolio? Is it common diplomatic relations that you write to your own counterpart to raise international issues like that.

Usual case of colonistic bigotory.

Alex thought Peter is "white", so he could write directly to him, alas, it back fired and truely showed Alex racist attitude.

Peter is peoples champion, you have to be in PNG to understand PNG. Home is madang.

Alex wants to remote control PNG, be aware the crocodiles that lurk!

ciao-rhem

Another article about this at the following link and some other links that might be of interest.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/moti-affair-another-canberra-blunder/2007/07/10/1183833518003.html

http://friendsofcuba.and.com.au/SCRIPTS/MAIN.ASP

http://www.aidwatch.org.au/index.php?current=1&display=aw01082&display_item=2