Sunday 23rd March 1997
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Issues - The banking system under the spotlight. This is most probably Papua New Guinea's (PNG) Prime Minister Julius Chan's final days in power. At Murray Barrack's in Port Moresby General Jerry Singirok has had his troops rally around him while Chan has seen the general population revolt about his decision to bring in the Sandline mercenaries.
Yesterday things seemed to calm down in PNG while journalists from the Australian media ran around interviewing anyone of note that they could find. This morning the commercial television channels were bristling with interviews.
In the calm Chan desperately called for Australia to send in the troops to overturn the pivotal role that the defence force now played in his government's future. Australia have refused saying that PNG needs to sort out its own problems.
Another tale from the Packer files. It appears that Australia's richest man was busy winning US$26 million off the Mirage Casino in Las Vegas last week and making merry of his luck on the baccarat tables when a wealthy American gambling nearby got upset about the noise being created by Packer.
The Amercian called in the casino's management to stop the noise but the protest was not acted upon.
Kerry Packer was eventually, after continued complaints by the man, advised of his fellow gambler's annoyance at his merrymaking.
This was unfortunate for the American as Packer called the man over and asked him how much he was worth.
"US$100 million", was the reply.
"In which case son," Packer is alleged to have said while reaching into his pocket, "I'll toss you for it."
At this point the gambler fled.
Talking about the well-heeled, it appears that Australia's most infamous "bankrupt" businessman, that conman Christopher Skase, secretly entered into negotiations to buy a casino in the Caribbean.
Skase's son-in-law, Mr Larkins, entered into negotiations (allegedly on Skase's behalf) with the owners of Port de Plaisance - French insurance company GMF. The expected sale price? Somewhere between Au$40 million to Au$50 million.
The island's Finance Commissioner, Vance James, is understood to have commented, "We don't need that kind od person on the island."
Seems like Skase won't get the casino!
At close of play the South African's had reached 240 for 3 wickets - 13 runs ahead of Australia's first innings total.
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