Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko of Papua New Guinea (PNG) announced his resignation on Friday, May 12, over a dispute about the size and expense of PNG's delegation to King Charles III's coronation in London.
Tkatchenko, as the Foreign Minister
In a Reuters report, Tkatchenko released a statement saying he "stood aside" after discussing the transition with Prime Minister James Marape. Though he still serves as a member of Congress.
He expressed his desire to ensure that future summits and meetings with world leaders would not be disrupted by current events.
Along with clearing up the disinformation and debunking falsehoods, he also wants to ensure the truth is established.
US President Joe Biden will visit PNG capital Port Moresby on May 22 in a historic meeting between him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the midst of a competition for influence in the Pacific islands, Tkachenko reported on Wednesday, May 10, that Biden would sign a defense treaty with PNG. Notably, Tkachenko had been heavily engaged in talks with the Americans.
On Friday night, Prime Minister Marape issued a statement saying that he will be in charge of coordinating the arrival of President Biden, Prime Minister Modi, and the leaders of more than a dozen Pacific islands. He praised Tkachenko for prioritizing the country's welfare.
Coronation Trip Expense Dispute
Since Saturday's coronation at London's Westminster Abbey, media and online news sites in PNG, a Pacific island member of the Commonwealth, have been rife with insults and criticism of the cost of travel of a large PNG delegation of 30 people. Many have said the money would have been better spent on hospitals.
Each delegate was given a budget of 50,000 kina ($14,000) to cover travel and lodging expenses.
After recording a TikTok video in Singapore about luxury shopping before boarding a flight, Tkatchenko's daughter, Savannah (who joined him on the trip), has become a target of criticism.
Marape apologized to Tkatchenko's family, particularly his daughter Savannah, for the horrific experience over the last two days. "No woman deserves to be treated the way Savannah was treated over the last few days," he stated.
According to The Guardian, Tkatchenko had also issued an apology for comments he made to the Australian state TV, in which he labeled those who had criticized his daughter on social media "primitive animals," provoking further outrage. It was a "poor choice of words," as Marape put it.
Bill Toraso, the official secretary at Government House, acknowledged to Reuters that the Governor General had sent ten staff members and ten guests to London. These individuals did not go with the government group. Tkatchenko was dispatched by Marape to represent PNG in his absence; he was accompanied on his trip by two foreign ministry officials.
