O’Neill: We must stand for Pacific

By HELEN TARAWA
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has urged core group heavily involved in Apec to give their best in the main events this week.
O’Neill yesterday addressed hundreds of Apec Coordination Authority officials, diplomats, liaison officers and support staff in Port Moresby.
“We are thankful for your commitment and support in doing what is going to be a historic moment for our country,” he said.
“I know this is a huge undertaking for our country, a small economy, with a small population and GDP.
“We are privileged to be a member of this very exclusive organisation.
“We are the only real Pacific Island nation to be a member.
“We have a responsibility to the rest of the island nations.
“We must stand up for the Pacific.”
O’Neill said the future of the country was the young people.
“We need to deal with the connections and the relationships to grow,” he said.
“You have made me proud over the last 250 meetings that we hosted. We only have this week to go and we will celebrate after we have completed the job.
“I ask that you give it all your best. We want every visitor to our country in the next two days, which will be about 9000 to 10,000, to feel welcomed.
“That is how we as Melanesians live and work and enjoy our country.”
O’Neill said every dollar invested in PNG would create opportunities for the people.
“Let us show our visitors what a country we have.”