A TOP level delegation from the United States has left Honiara without seeing Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare – an experience which left a delegation member feeling ‘what it’s like to be treated as a leper.’
Representative woman, Amata Coleman Radewagen and Congressman, Republican Neal Dunn, left for Port Moresby on Wednesday after staying an extra night in the hope of seeing Prime Minister Sogavare.
Both arrived in Honiara on Monday and were hoping to meet with Prime Minister Sogavare before flying off to Port Moresby – their next stop the next day.
But they did not.
Instead, they had to drop off a gift for the Prime Minister Sogavare at his Office.
In a number of messages via Messenger to me, she said of the visit:
“Talofa Alfred, Enjoyed visiting your beautiful country and had hoped to meet up with Fred’s friends of many years but there’s always a next time. Please give my regards to Hon. PM whom I met in Washington DC last year.
“Congressman Neal Dunn and I dropped off a gift at his office. Maybe I’ll have a chance to see him this September in DC at President Biden’s Pacific Islands Summit with all of the leaders. God bless. Sincerely, Amata
“At the end of the day we are Pacific Islanders and are therefore one family. This meeting had been cleared with the PM’s office and even if the PM didn’t want to personally see us, surely there must have been some lower person on the staff or the janitor who might have a few minutes available to receive us. That is the Pacific island way. We were ignored and so after fifteen minutes or so, we left.
“We don’t feel bad about it, just happy that we made it to the PM’s office as we had agreed to do. Take care, Alfred. (Amata)
“At least I know what it’s like to be treated as a leper lol! (laugh out loud)
There was no response from the Prime Minister’s Press Office regarding the appointment for the US delegation.
By Alfred Sasako
