New Zealand diplomat says Vanuatu taught him respect

Outgoing New Zealand’s

High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Bill Dobbie thanked the Government and people of Vanuatu for enabling him to learn respect, knowledge and kindness from the people of Vanuatu, which no other foreign diplomat has ever acknowledged in the last 33 years.

He said, “You showed me and my staff respect in the last three years and I want to thank you Prime Minister (Moana Carcasses) and your people for that. I now understand better why the late Father Walter Lini said, ‘Respect is honourable”.

The second is knowledge. “You shared your knowledge with me to help me to carry out my duties in Vanuatu. Local knowledge of your politics and customs and islands and people has all been vital to my duties during my three years here”, he said.

The third one is kindness: “You showed me and my family kindness and I will never forget all this as well as your warm welcome. I want to thank the Government and Parliament and Judiciary for the smooth cooperation shown to me and my family in the last three years. I will leave taking with me all the good memories that I enjoyed with you Prime Minister and the people of Vanuatu in the last three year”, he said.

Of his good memories he said, “I remember attending the opening ceremonies of the East Coast Santo Road and Efate ring Road. Both projects reflect the success stories of how development partners work well with the Government of Vanuatu.

“On my visit to Nguna the community leaders told me that their relationship with New Zealand started 150 years ago with Christian Missionary Peter Milne.

“In 2013 it gave me great pleasure to learn that almost 3,000 ni Vanuatu workers were working in NZ through RSE. “I enjoyed the privilege and honour to represent my country and the Government of New Zealand to help Vanuatu become more just, healthy, wealthy and more educated — a good shared goal for everyone”.

The outgoing High Commissioner delivered his address to reply to the Prime Minister’s farewell speech during a final dinner with him and his wife last week.

High Commissioner Dobbie arrived in the country to talk up is post in 2011 and went on to become the Dean of Diplomatic Corps.

The Prime Minister read out a long list of development projects some of which are already benefiting the country for which he thanked the High Commissioner. “You have come to the end of your term here in Vanuatu. On behalf of the people and Government of Vanuatu I would like to thank you and your Government for your contributions to our people and our two countries, and we wish to wish you all the best in your new path in the future.

“We look forward to working with your successor who I believe is with us here tonight”.

The Prime Minister and his wife presented gifts to Dobbie and his wife.