The New Zealand Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Helen Clark was not snubbed when she arrived at the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum in Nuku'alofa yesterday, 'Eseta Fusitu'a the Master of Ceremonies said today, blaming a faulty sound system for her apparent failure to announce the entrance of Miss Clark.

She was countering a report by Television New Zealand's One News last night, which reported that Miss Clark was snubbed and that guests at the Pacific Forum in Tonga on Tuesday were left wondering why New Zealand's Prime Minister was the only leader not to be announced when she arrived.

But 'Eseta, who is Tonga's Chief Secretary to Cabinet, confirmed today that she had fully announced the arrival of the New Zealand Prime Minister yesterday at Pangai Lahi where Pacific Leaders gathered to hear an opening address by King George Tupou V.

"Because of the rainy weather that morning the microphone was on and off and what I picked up from the people who were gathered at the two tents at Pangai Lahi, was that some people heard it and some did not.

"I also had a back up staff behind me who were there to assist if anything went wrong, they confirmed too heard my announcement of the NZ PM's arrival," she added.

'Eseta said that from her perspective that Miss Clark upon disembarking from her vehicle, was cheered by the crowd, and she in return waved at them.

Low audio

Meanwhile, the local Television Tonga footage of the opening ceremony recorded also confirmed that Helen Clark was indeed announced upon her arrival at Pangai Lahi.

Radio and Television Tonga news reporter 'Anau Fonokalafi and Emma Jane Vea today replayed the footage of Helen Clark's arrival at Pangai Lahi and they confirmed that she was announced by 'Eseta, but the audio was low.

Disappointed

Complaints have been numerous from both foreign and local journalists and photographers that their seating arrangement at the opening was quite unsuitable for their work - they were placed at the back of a tent and could not see the speakers or hear the speeches properly. It was also raining. The severely restricted movements at Pangai Lahi resulted in poor photographs, and dismal sound quality and many of the press came away disappointed that they were unable to record the opening speeches.

"The drivers of the vehicles who were hanging around doing nothing had a better position than the press who were trying to cover the event," said one journalist, who pointed out that staff from the Prime Minister's Office Information Unit and the Tonga Defence Services combined their efforts to stop the accredited press from leaving the poor position that they had been allocated.