Papua New Guinea angry with Canada

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 22 (UPI) -- Diplomatic relations between Canada and Papua New Guinea are strained after Canada denied entry to eight young dancers on a cultural exchange.

The incident began July 4, when the dancers arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the invitation of the Little Shushwap Indian band, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reported Tuesday.

After four hours of questioning by border agents, the group was denied entry, as officials said they suspected the dancers intended to overstay their monthlong visit despite their return tickets, the report said.

Malcolm Smith-Kela, a Papua New Guinea legislator who helped organize the trip, told the CBC he was outraged, and his prime minister, Michael Somare, was sending a diplomatic protest to his Canadian counterpart, Stephen Harper.

He said Papua New Guinea was also taking more than just diplomatic measures.

"We will refuse to let Canadian companies come in here or meet with the appropriate people and I know there are a lot of oil licenses pending on that, so it'll cost Canadian companies a lot of money," Smith-Kela said.