Diplomats sign up

RETIRED judge Don Sawong yesterday signed his contract as PNG’s Ambassador to China.
Sawong told The National that having served as a judge for about 20 years, he wanted to do something else.
“It’s a privilege and honour to continue to service the people of PNG in a different capacity,” he said.
“After serving as a judge for more than 20 years, I retired and tried doing something else. But that didn’t work. So the Government assigned me to serve as ambassador to China.”
Sawong took up office last year and had been working in Beijing for four months.
“I’ve been serving in Beijing for about four months,” he said.
“Because of the Covid-19 and weather conditions, my family remained in PNG while I worked there.”
Sawong is from Kabwum, Morobe.
Meanwhile, Moses Niggi Kaugl has been appointed High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands with concurrent accreditation to Vanuatu for four years.
Kaugl served as a foreign service officer for almost 21 years.
He served as first secretary and second secretary in Indonesia, Malaysia and France.
“It’s a good feeling because it’s the dream of any foreign service career officer to reach the top,” he said.
“I’m so glad that I will represent the country and do what I can with the best of my ability and with God’s blessings.”