PARKOP YOGA SAGA: MERCENARIES, MISFITS, MADWOMEN OR CRIMINALS?
by JOE MERCER “The people in my church think I’m a missionary, but I might be more of a mercenary than people think.” Lisa Michelle Vernon claimed in February 2015. She also said “So that’s why I’m in Papua New Guinea. I’m an aid worker so my job definitely fits the missionary category; my motivations are personal so I’m a bit of a mercenary. Why do I live in Port Moresby? Because I’m mental.” Lisa Vernon (pictured right) a citizen of the United Kingdom might be “more of a mercenary” than many people – including NCD Governor Powes Parkop - in Papua New Guinea (PNG) may have thought. In 2015 she was no longer employed as a volunteer Aid worker. She had ceased being an Aid worker in April 2014, according to her personal LinkedIn profile. Officers with the Department of Labour and Employment & also Immigration can check whether or not she still continued to reside in PNG and engage in employment activities whilst retaining a working visa and work permit