Give credit where it is due

Dear Editor,Over the last two weeks, I have observed how media twisted language and praise Ambassador Joy for the successful ACP-EU Meeting.
But what has Ambassador Joy done really to deserve that praise?

Why can’t media focus on the beautification works undertaken by Johnny Botleng of the Port Vila Municipality?

Joe Iauko’s organized Cultural and Exhibition program?

Linda Kalpoi and Marakon Obed’s Accommodation subcommittee?

Dick Abel’s beautification works?

Serge Mahe’s protocol arrangements?

Toney Tevi and Roline’s transportation network?

Victor Rory’s program’s subcommittee?

Nadine’s spouse’s program?

John Robert Simelum’s difficulty in financing the various activities?

Dr Willie Tokon’ health preparedness?

And Lennox Vuti’s hard drive to get civil servants attend meetings and decide and his overall command of getting matters prepared in time?

The media, you have got it wrong by praising a man based in Brussels with no real tangible contribution to the preparatory work of the ACP-EU meeting, besides bidding to host the 95th Session of ACP Council and the 37th Session of the Joint ACP-EU meeting.

Bidding without having the infrastructure to host such a meeting is shallow thinking, emptiness and narrow-minded. Media giving credit to a man who closes the Brussels Office and have all staff come to Port Vila for the meeting; operated outside the scope of the National Taskforce who approved only two persons to travel to Port Vila (instead four came); hosted a dinner without National Taskforce approval- that would inflict a long- lasting wound to the fiscal situation of the country; allowed delegates to travel to areas against security advice during the meeting, etc.

To save his face at the ACP and EU circles, he was fortunate enough to have Prime Minister Kilman supported the bid and set in motion the preparatory works- without which Ambassador Joy will be laughed at in Brussels. Kilman and Carlot were fortunate too to have hired a thirsty-for-results National Coordinator who drove civil servants to meet and decide in times when they failed to attend National Taskforce meetings; and tabled a preparations progress report to the 94th Session of the ACP Council in Brussels in December 2011 (transmitted via VBTC four times) convincing delegates to come to the Land of the Happiest People on Earth.

But media chose to give credit to someone who felt like crying upon arrival in Port Vila because he was overwhelmed with the preparations put in place by the National Taskforce, something he did not expect. He rightfully thanked the team of which he is not part with meaningless flowery diplomatic language. Give credit where it is due!

Observer

Editor’s Note:
Both the organisers mentioned here and the Ambassador deserve credit for the hosting of the ACP/EU meetings in Vanuatu. The stories we run do not mean to overlook the hard work of those mentioned here. Daily Post would like to mention in particular your media liaison officer for the ACP/EU meeting, Johnetty Jeretty, who was very helpful throughout the meeting.