Worth taking note....

The visit by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to Papua New Guinea on March 6 to 7 was a time for our Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to repair relations with Australia, but the protocol accorded by the PNG Government fell short of expectation, and gave rise to another issue in PNG politics.

Protocol blunder by Newman Curthburt

Some time back my dad travelled down the coast to Songade village half way between Oro Bay and Tufi to fulfil some customary obligations.
He was accompanied by several elders of our own clan.
When the paramount chief of the area, a man by the name of Kokita, was told of the coming event, he asked his son this question: “Is it the father that is coming or the son?”
Kokita was told that the father had passed on but his place had been taken by the son and it was this son who was visiting.
To this the grand chieftain said, “If it is the son as you say, then I will remain but you must go to Songade and be with the people when he arrives. And on your return bring me news of all that has happened. You will also take to him my best wishes”.
It never fails to amaze me how our own PNG customs and traditions run parallel to the procedures of protocol within which our people involve themselves in matters of state in our own towns and villages and indeed when we set out to be part of the wider international community in the conduct of the country’s foreign affairs. With more than 200 language groups PNG finds itself in a unique position with no shortage of traditional protocol which it can adopt with pride to work into the system for our meets and greets of foreign dignitaries.
This is not just song and dance and the placing of wreaths of flowers and presentation of gifts.
But the entire program of events from the time the control tower allocates the apron on which the official aircraft moves into parking position to the many tours, speeches, meetings and dinners, until tired and weary his aircraft goes out of our radar view and from our airspace. The fever of Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister’s first official overseas visit, is still in the air and how could Goroka forget the smiling Kevin Rudd who took out his own cash to buy a bilum or was moved by the blind piano playing youth.
But Goroka turned up a warm welcome to the cold reception at Jacksons airport when certain procedures within which foreign dignitaries with such ranks as Prime Ministers are received in foreign countries was chucked out the door and in its stead, our own Prime Minister sent a minister of his choosing further down the rank to meet Mr Rudd. While we do not question the important role the Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch plays in Government, and the rank he occupies, the first call would have been on the Deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu in the event that the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare was not available to meet his Australian counterpart. In this case, both the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and his deputy Dr Puka Temu were both available on the day and in Port Moresby.
It really does not make a lot of sense when Sir Michael is advised to be at the airport to meet Manessa Sogovare who was on a stop over or to meet some lower ranking Fijian official on a semi-official visit and decides not to be at the airport in person complete with the rank and file of his administration to welcome the man who represents one country whose aid we heavily rely on.
“Send not thy man to find for whom the bell tolls, for it tolls for thee” the poet Dunne once wrote. There is no doubt that the diplomatic community in Port Moresby will have noticed the choice to overlook Dr Puka Temu and by now will confirm their own suspicions about the leadership after Sir Michael Somare and that the Deputy Prime Minister only occupies that office by name.
But then there could have been other appropriate events that would have presented the Grand Chief with the opportunity to introduce Mr Pruaitch to Papua New Guinea and the world and Kevin Rudd’s tour was not that time.
The office of the Chief of Protocol is a senior position in the whole of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Career diplomatic officers who once held that position have gone off to distinguish themselves in the PNG Foreign Service.
They are the custodians of the procedures under which foreign relations is conducted and our sovereignty to be realised and take its rightful place among the international community.
They guide our own leaders in language and action in their dealings with foreign officials right from the board room to raising the glass to propose a toast.
When Kevin Rudd arrived at Sir Michael’s office he extended his hand in a gesture of goodwill and the first words were “Grand Chief…
It actually sounded like “there you are. So this is where you have been all this time … and in the TV news picture Dr Temu appeared for the first time walking behind other ranks and with a long face that expressed very little. The warm hands of welcome actually belonged to Pruaitch at Jacksons international some hours earlier but it was Sir Michael that mattered most to Rudd.
Let us hope that we get it absolutely correct the next time we host a state visit of some sort and remove from the minds of the people any dark clouds of uncertainty that may hang over the comings and goings of our own domestic politics.

I didn't understand the article, only thing I took away is that Puka Temu is a Puppet on the strings and everyone knows that. Somare, is ofcourse naturally arrogant, em normal lo em sindaun olsem grand chief na ol man kam kiss lo han blo em.

It's about diplomacy and following protocol

Most of our leaders do not know how to observe basic protocol or diplomatic etiquette.

Its especially embarrasing when they commit blunders while abroad.

But then most of them are too thick-skinned to even realize that they actually embarass themselves or offend another party.