Ban Port Moresby flights: Byrne

The National Business

LAE Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) president John Byrne says flights out of Port Moresby should be banned following the 14-day lockdown in the nation’s capital.
Byrne said businesses in Lae had begun adopting the new normal.
“The position of the LCCI and the Morobe Emergency Operations Committee is to lock down domestic travels out of POM until the medical teams have contained the spread,” he said.
“This is tough on Moresby, and will have some impact on business and families, but a containment protocol will protect a broader base spread of the virus.”
Byrne said businesses had to lay off staff or reduce hours which affected people’s livelihoods.
“Lae recovered from the first lockdown, with many businesses having fought to survive, particularly those in hospitality, tourism, gambling and nightclubs,” he said.
“The double-effect of the Barrick impasse had a heavier impact on the community and business.”
Byrne said the committee was preparing for community and business education and awareness programmes on hygiene habits. He said since the first days of Covid-19, Lae city and Morobe had never relaxed the hygiene and education programme.
He thanked the Morobe health authority education and awareness programmes and preparation of isolation and the Covid-19 hospital facilities.

5 comments

  • Strict measures had to be taken.Sacrifices had to be made. I strongly support the move to ban flights in and out of Pott Moresby as a great move to help contain and reduce the spread of the virus.

  • Surely govt should effect the restriction of domestic flights out of pom. If this is not effected soon then it is 100% sure that the virus will spread in all the other provinces like a wild fire.

  • Moresby number is escalating like wildfire no thanks to the incompentcy of the so-called noc team, they failed big time in all aspects in containing it let alone allowing in at the first instance.

    Ban flights out on pom is the first step to containing it especially to our second port that generates income for the govt.

  • I too agree that all flights out of Port Moresby should be ban till NCD has contained it. Our country is a developing nation so we need to take extreme measures in dealing with such situations that can destroy nation for instance our Government might take out offshore loans to fight this sickness,resulting in more debts which we the citizens will repay affecting our family budget.

Comments are closed.