Good feedback from delegates

CHIEF Secretary Isaac Lupari says the country managed to host a major international event despite having only six months to prepare for it.
He was commenting on the conclusion of the three-day summit of Africa Caribbean Pacific heads of State and Government yesterday.
Lupari, a former PNG ambassador to the European Union, said there had been a “very good feedback” from the delegations.
“This was not PNG’s turn to host the ACP leaders’ summit,” Lupari said.
“We had to put our hands up just to salvage this important forum.
“It’s been a six-month preparation. To host an event like this, where you have 78 countries attending, needs more than six months to plan and get everything done. It would need at least three years to plan.
“This is something that we did to salvage the integrity of the ACP Group.
“So far, things have gone very well, with leaders who have come and visited saying good things about this country’s progress. This is reflective of the leadership of the Government.”
Lupari said many of the leaders and delegates did not expect the kind of hospitality accorded to them during the summit.
“They said that this is world-class,” he said.
“We’re pleased with the positive feedback that we’re getting, but at the same time, it’s been a learning curve for us. Many people have been involved in the six months to plan and execute.
“Many Papua New Guineans have come out as volunteers, liaison officers, protection officers, drivers.
“It demonstrates that people of Papua New Guinea are prepared and are working towards bigger things that are going to happen in the near future – that is APEC 2018 which is going to be the biggest one.”