JULIE BISHOP’S PNG VISIT: A PLOT SO SINISTER!
By KELVIN R. NATATA When the Pope or Queen of England visited PNG last, full State protocol was observed and red carpet laid out for them, with all the ladies and gentry of the former Territories turned up in their finest regalia, and happy flag waving school children lined the streets, shouting and singing various welcome songs composed in their honour. The faithful flew in from every part of the country to pay homage, went away fulfilled and satisfied. One such visit in the early 1970s was by then Australian Prime Minister, Hon John Gorton MP and his wife Lady Gorton. There was a guard of honour led by a very sharp young military officer trained in Australia named, Edward Diro, who was eager to impress. The renowned and ward winning Police Band from the Bomana Police College took their place and played few Frank Sinatra numbers for the tense crowd gathered at the old terminal. The usual who is who among the 100,000 strong expatriate community sat on white chairs.