| Sports |
A reminder of ham
sandwich
The old Lae airport
provokes a distinct taste from the past, writes
JACK METTA
THE old Lae airport is back in the
news again and as has been the case for nigh on two decades, the
adverse publicity has not at all, being good news.
If there is a landmark in this country that serves as a yardstick
to show how far we have advanced in 31 years of independence, it
has to be Lae’s old airport.
The piece of turf that stretches nearly 2km from the Milfordhaven
Road to the east to Aircorps Road on the western side towards the
waterfront, can be likened to the Devil’s Playground in this day
and age for it continues to be a sticking point for disputes
involving the administration and the local people, a hot property
ripe for the whims and schemes of self-centred individuals, and,
the bane of law-abiding and God-fearing city residents.
Whilst the airport had figured prominently in the development of
Lae, since the end of the Second World War, it had become somewhat
an eyesore of late, when vast tracts had been left undeveloped and
open to abuse by unscrupulous people and criminals of the lowest
kind.
Some of the activities that go on daily in the tall grass that
swaddles parts of the old airport is enough to make the pioneers
and developers of Lae during the colonial days, turn in their
grave.
In fact, those who are buried opposite the Huon Gulf Hotel at the
end of the eastern end of the runway could be doing that right
now.
This cemetery, whilst long forgotten by the powers that be, holds
the remains of expatriates, who figured prominently in the
development of Lae City during the colonial days.
As children growing up in Lae in the 1960s, we used to give the
place a wide berth when making our way to top town by foot on
Saturdays. Occasionally, one or two of us would wonder off through
the somber, but well manicured lawns in pursuit of the kingfishers
perched on the overgrown Frangipani shrubs in the cemetery. The
hunt was often short-lived as the hunters would suddenly make a
hasty retreat over the nicely trimmed hedges with an angry
groundsman in hot pursuit.
Years later, you wonder if the words ‘rest in peace’ were an
appropriate term for the people who were laid to rest in this neck
of the woods in the city.
Planes swooped daily over it when landing or taking off but for a
time after the 1990s, when the airport was relocated to the Nadzab,
did these dearly departed finally find peace ... or did they?
There was a shortcut through the perimeters of the cemetery that
was used by people going to and from the Angau Memorial Hospital
until the criminal elements decided that the cemetery served as an
ideal cover to ambush unsuspecting victims.
These early robbery incidents perhaps augured for the greater evil
that was to befall this historical part of Lae city in later
years.
Devil’s Playground is an apt description for the place for on it
are committed rapes, murders, illegal prostitution, abductions,
gambling and corruption at the highest level.
If statistics were to be gleaned of these activities since the
official closure of the airport in the late 1990s, one would be
surprised at the numbers of what could have been preventable
crimes if only the old airport was developed soon after all
airport activities ceased.
Indeed, the old airport land has shaped up as a seasonal issue of
contention.
One day, the local people would be kicking up a stink over the
ownership of the land and then the pros and cons of the issue
would dwindle and slip quietly into oblivion for a while and
resurface again when scandals or unscrupulous dealings trigger
another angry confrontation.
Amidst it all, the landmark remains a barren strip, an eyesore and
the grounds for continuing lawlessness, not to mention the many
potential drivers who use it to hone their skills at the wheels of
a mate’s or a relative’s vehicle. Occasionally, the parties learn
to their regret that it’s safer to drive or learn to drive on
playing fields, after criminals emerge from the tall grass and
commandeer their vehicle at a point of an offensive weapon.
Christian groups in Lae are not blind to the manifestation of evil
enveloping the old airport. Over the year, a number of crusades
had been held on the grounds in a bid to exorcise the demons.
And the old airport – human attempts and focus on issues of
matters such as these are seasonal – you come back to it after a
while when the damage is done and the original members of your
group had disbanded.
For some of us, the old Lae airport holds some very special and
fond memories.
Other than the place where you boarded your first plane in life,
it is the place where you tasted your in-flight meal without being
on board a plane.
Beside the Markham Road between the old terminal and the Angau
hospital, was an old incinerator, where the discards from the
flights were dumped and incinerated.
The group of boys mentioned earlier who used to give the nearby
expatriate cemetery a wide berth, made it their business to detour
from their Saturday morning stroll to town to check out the
goodies at the incinerator.
This was after their regular pastime after the sweet taste of
success at finding sumptuous whole ham and salad sandwiches,
cakes, fruits and biscuits still in their plastic wraps among the
discarded litter at the incinerator site.
The discoveries were indeed exciting moments, for each was in
sheer heaven at tasting for the first time in their lives, “White
Man’s food”.
For me, the sight and mention of the old Lae airport automatically
brings back that distinct taste of ham and salad sandwich.
I will always remember and cherish it for that despite the bad
taste that other diabolical activities on the old Lae airport now,
leaves in my mouth.
Perhaps it is time to take heed of the Wise Counsellor’s words:
“Those who go against the grain of God’s laws should not complain
when they get splinters ...”
 
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