Barter doesn't like 'chief' award

By MALUM NALU

 

Madang businessman and former politician Sir Peter Barter does not like the chief” title added to his knighthood in this year’s New Year’s honours list.

This is in contrast to many Papua New Guineans who are lining up to be bestowed awards, which has made the whole system a joke among many people.

Sir Peter, who has been busy attending to the Manam Island volcano eruptions since Christmas Day, made this clear  on Monday when asked to  to comment on his being awarded the chief title together with retired Catholic Archbishop Sir Brian Barnes and former house of assembly member Sir Akepa Miakwe.

“I do not want to be called anything else but ‘Peter’,” he told The National.

“The first I heard about this Logohu award was in The National this morning.

“I did not ask for it

“In fact, more than 12 months ago, it was mentioned and I made a specific comment that I did not want any more awards.

“There are other people who have done a lot more than myself.

“My reward is being accepted by the people of PNG as a Papua New Guinean.”

Sir Peter, one of PNG’s largest tourism operators who runs Madang-based Melanesian Tourist Services and Madang Resort Hotel, said his one regret was the lack of development in tourism.

“My regret is that we have not been able to really develop tourism in PNG, which would have created so many more jobs, business opportunities and an economic income for so many people in rural areas,” he said.

“It is about time we began to exploit a renewable resource.”