Somare raises doubts

 FORMER Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is concerned about Papua New Guinea’s readiness to stage the Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

Sir Michael made the comments to pioneer editor of the The National, Frank Kolma at Parliament House yesterday during the presentation of the 2014 acquittals by Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko to Finance Minister James Marape.

“Are we really ready to host the Pacific Games,” Sir Michael asked. The 75-year-old was Prime Minister when the country won the right to host the Games in 2009 but could not help but raise his doubts at the level of preparedness in the city.

With under than four months left before the official opening ceremony on July 4, the country’s senior statesman wanted to see the nation deliver an event comparable to the 1991  effort. 

Sir Michael said he wanted to express his concerns to Tkatchenko in Parliament but was tied up with other matters.

He said his biggest worry was the work on sporting facilities and he feared the time left would not be adequate to allow for their completion.

He conceded that if preparations had began earlier then athletes would now be benefiting  from using the facilities ahead of the Games.

Despite that, he said as hosts the Games was the country’s for the taking.