By SAMPSON BONAI
THOUSANDS of children dragged their parents and even nagged close relatives including uncles and aunties to take them along to the world’s largest floating bookfair.
The ship Named Mv Doulos berthed at the Milfordhaven Wharf, Lae, last Friday morning.
The book fair was officially opened by Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane.
Sir Paulias noted with grim determination that children were not reading enough.
He put the blame squarely on parents whom he said were not reading at all.
Even more, he said, there were not enough Papua New Guinean writers.
Sir Paulias, the country’s most prolific author, called on more people to write books.
He was welcomed aboard the 94-year-old ship, expected to be decommissioned by 2010, by Australian skipper Captain Ashley McDonald.
Capt McDonald and his crew of 104 volunteers, deckhands, cooks, cleaners and guests were treated to some entertaining performance on the ship, including a colourful and graceful South Korean fan dance.
While the official opening ceremony was being done aboard, hundreds of children, their mothers and guardians were turned away at the gates and told to return after lunch.