Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Papua New Guinea angry with Canada

|
|
 
  
Published: July 22, 2008 at 9:02 AM

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.

Topics: Michael Somare
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 30
Valentine's Day Ramallah, West Bank
View Caption
fark
Empire State building IPO issued. Subby also has a bridge to sell you as well
Reverend Sun Myung Moon cedes mass wedding business to Morning Zoo dj's, let's see if anybody notices...
"No, your honor. It's just a social club. That hangs out in the woods. With high powered rifles....
New SI swimsuit cover girl is Republican congressman's niece
Can't sleep. Must eat Pope in woods. And wear his hat. Or something
What booty calls, prostitutes, cigars, the Village People have in common? They are all things FBI...