THE MASALAI BLOG
AUSTRALIA’S NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER to Papua New Guinea, Ms Deborah Stokes, arrived in Port Moresby on Monday. Ms Stokes replaces Ian Kemish.
“I am delighted to be in PNG at a very exciting time,” Ms Stokes said.
She said she wanted to meet people from all walks of life to gain an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Papua New Guinea.
Ms Stokes said that Australia and PNG have a very strong bilateral relationship, based on a shared history, strong people-to-people links, and deep trade and economic ties.
“I look forward to continuing the work of previous High Commissioners in promoting economic cooperation and people-to-people links between our two countries, and in supporting the development goals of the PNG Government.” she said.
Ms Stokes is Australia’s first female High Commissioner to PNG. She said she wanted to work with the growing number of outstanding women leaders in PNG, to identify ways in which Australia could further support the equal participation of women in all sectors of Papua New Guinea society.
Ms Stokes is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was most recently head of the Department’s International Organisations and Legal Division.
She has previously served as Australia’s Ambassador to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, and as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.
Ehya! Sori tumas Maikel. Ating emi no bin harim nek blo yu yet brada.
Posted by: Paul Oates | 21 March 2013 at 09:36 AM
Tenkiu tru Keith Jackson, long putim dispela toksave stori long PNG Attitude. (Mipela sampela ino bin ridim nius).
Nogat man o meri long PNG Attitude i mekim nek, olsem na mi laik mekim sotpela nek igo long Hekselensi Ms Deborah Stokes; Welkam tru long Papua Niugini!
Mipela ol man meri long PNG Attitude bai laikim tru sapos yu bihainim lek mak bilong man igo pas long wok bilong yu, Hekselensi Ian Kemish.
Ian em bin wanpela boi-man tru bilong mipela.
Ating Keith Jackson yet em i gat save long wanem samting Ian Kemish em bin mekim wantaim mipela long dispela website na long Crocodile Prize.
Tasol yu tu igat pasin bilong yu yet.
Ating wanem tingting yu gat na wok yu laik mekim em bai i kam gut long mipela tu o nogat? Em i samting mipela ino save nau yet.
Tenkiu long kam istap wantaim mipela long PNG.
Posted by: Michael Dom | 20 March 2013 at 11:19 PM
As a Papua New Guinean, i am happy with what Ms Stokes has mentioned. She said that she is happy to be in PNG and want to meet people in all walks of life.
This statement gives me idea that this particular leader is concerned about PNG and its people. She wants to make sure that the relationship between PNG and Australia is maitained.
Therefore government should work together or closely with her so that assistance can be provided by the Australian government towards our development in our country.
She mentioned that she is happy with the female leaders in PNG. So those leaders should work closely with her so that, they work extra hard to produce more women leaders in our country.
As a Papua New Guinean, I want to welcome you to PNG and wish you all the best in your work.
Posted by: Nevegapa Abeya Sam | 20 March 2013 at 09:18 PM
I hope she can help the women in PNG!
Posted by: David Wall | 20 March 2013 at 05:55 PM
It is good that the Australian high commissioner is a lady so that she can really see what is going on with women in PNG society and help them.
Men seem to dominate them, so please women leaders stand side by side with her in looking into PNG women to provide a better place.
Posted by: Nathan Gabara | 20 March 2013 at 05:07 PM