Delegates’ visit a bonus for us

IT’S not surprising that some highlevel delegates attending the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Port Moresby next month don’t feel safe staying there.

It’s unfortunate for Papua New Guinea but a bonus for Cairns as the city will host some VIPs and their entourages.

The city’s airport will become a car park for private jets and even Air Force Two and they’ll stay at five-star hotels such as the Hilton and Pullman.

Australian taxpayers are shelling out more than $100 million to help PNG host the summit and it has also been heavily involved in security, providing much of the training and equipment for PNG’s security forces through the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Defence Force (ADF).

But even so dozens are not convinced and will fly-in and fly-out to Port Moresby from Cairns during the meeting.

Authorities are remaining tightlipped for security reasons but the Cairns Post understands among them is US Vice President Mike Pence and his security cohort.

Cairns has a solid reputation for providing the best security and facilities for high-ranking officials.

In years gone by we have hosted former US president Bill Clinton, a German chancellor, a Chinese vice president and earlier this year Prince Charles. We also hosted the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in 2014.

So we have the runs on the board and there were few, if any, situations of concern during these events staged in Cairns.

It is hoped that Mr Pence and some of the others will travel out to the Great Barrier Reef as part of their stay in a boost for tourism. Nick Dalton Deputy editor