24 Jan 2013

Vanuatu in bad light following incident in PNG - Natapei

5:17 am on 24 January 2013

Vanuatu Opposition leader says the liaison between the Foreign Minister and two controversial diplomatic representatives in Papua New Guinea has cast his country in a poor light.

The Minister, Alfred Carlot's visit to PNG coincided with the transit of a private plane carrying two Vanuatu diplomatic passport holders, Pascal Anh Saken and his brohter.

Saken is the owner of the super yacht Phocea which has been detained in Vanuatu since July due to false documentation.

PNG's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has denied Alfred Carlot's claim that he visited PNG at the invitation of the PNG Government.

Edward Natapei says the opposition believe Mr Carlot was there to meet the Sakens.

"The real concern is that the two brothers were travelling with Vanuatu diplomatic passports. Now there's a big question about the diplomatic passports of Vanuatu and the credibility of that and our involvement as a country with people like the Sakens who are involved in other crooked deals around the world."

Edward Natapei.