Coronation travel cost prompts public backlash in Papua New Guinea
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Britain's Queen Camilla and Britain's King Charles III travelling in the Gold State Coach, back to Buckingham Palace, in central London, on May 6.
PHOTO: AFP
SYDNEY - Papua New Guinea (PNG) has witnessed an online backlash over the cost to taxpayers of around 30 officials travelling to London for the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III, with the governor-general’s office denying media reports the bill was close to US$1 million (S$1.3 million).
Media and online news sites in PNG, a Pacific island member of the Commonwealth, have been running hot with insults and criticism of the cost of travel since Saturday’s coronation in Westminster Abbey.
Many say the money would have been better spent on hospitals.
“Insane number of delegates for overseas trips, for so called meetings, yet no funds for basic human rights services,” wrote Ms Esther Kila on the PNG Post Courier website.
In a statement, Government House official secretary Bill Toraso denied media reports the governor-general’s office had spent 3 million kina (S$1.1 million), but confirmed to Reuters 10 of its staff had travelled to London, in addition to 10 guests.
This was in addition to Governor-General Bob Dadae, his wife and Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko.
The Governor-General always travels with 10 staff members, Mr Toraso said, including a valet, a lady-in-waiting and two protocol officers.
“Everybody is included to ensure the Governor-General doesn’t embarrass the country,” he said by telephone from London.
Security and a car were provided by Buckingham Palace.
The cost of the Governor-General’s delegation was less than half a million kina, he said, noting that Australia had provided transport on a military aircraft when they went to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
PNG values its “close and historical ties we as a nation share with the monarch, as our head of state”, Mr Toraso said.
Mr Tkatchenko said he was asked by Prime Minister James Marape to attend the coronation, and his invitation from Buckingham Palace had included a spouse; he had taken his daughter in her place.
Two staff members travelled to London, where Mr Tkatchenko held meetings with British ministers.
“It was a very productive and historical visit,” he said.
Driving up costs was the strength of the pound, worth four times the kina, he added.
Five PNG soldiers travelled to take part in the military parade.
The British High Commission in Port Moresby was monitoring the public backlash, an official said. AFP
