Apec routes

By HELEN TARAWA
MAJOR roads in Port Moresby, including the Poreporena Freeway, will be closed to the public during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in November – for security reasons – according to Apec Minister Justin Tkatchenko.
Roads which will be closed include the Kumul Flyover, Sir John Guise Drive, Waigani Drive, Wards Road, Poreporena Freeway, Stanley Esplanade and the Paga Ring Road, from the airport to Apec Haus.
“These roads will be affected from November 12 to 18 during the leaders’ summit. Traffic will have to use alternative routes during that time,” Tkatchenko said.
“Downtown’s Central Business District especially around Apec Haus area will be closed off to the public during the three-day (leaders’ summit) meeting.
“There will be ample police and traffic controllers monitoring the roads and controlling traffic all the time so people will not be confused.”
Tkatchenko said security requirements by the world leaders meant that those roads would be closed to the public as they wanted those roads cleared.
“We have to abide by all different aspects of security for different countries and peg it together and apply it to everybody,” he said.
He said places would be provided for children and members of the public to catch a glimpse of the world leaders who they only saw on TV or in the newspapers.
“We have to control it because other countries will not allow their presidents or prime ministers to come if we do not meet the security requirement,” he said.
“A lot of these countries have very strict guidelines. We have to ensure that we abide by that or they will not send their leaders.”
Tkatchenko said the summit would be held on a weekend, so schools and businesshouses would not be affected.
“We will announce a programme and activity, which roads will be closed and what routes people can take,” he said.