Drama sorted after Momis stopped from flying

National

POLICE say the stopping of Bougainville president John Momis and his delegation from boarding an Air Nuigini flight for Port Moresby was a misunderstanding between the airline and his officers.
North Bougainville regional police commander Inspector Kingsley Lua confirmed to The National yesterday that the matter had been sorted.
“The president was supposed to be flown straight to Port Moresby on Air
Nuigini’s PX253 with his delegation on Monday to attend the three-day referendum seminar in Port Moresby,” he said.
But because there was miscommunication between the Bougainville administration and the Air Niugini service provider, the delegation could not leave. The airline hadf been putting pressure on the administration to settle outstanding payments.
Lua said they managed to contain the situation at the airport on Monday by removing trucks and cars parked on the tarmac by the protesters to prevent the aircraft from leaving.
“The ABG administration has already communicated with the service providers and the president is now allowed to travel to Port Moresby,” he said.
Lua said yesterday they escorted Momis and his delegation comprising Joseph Watawi, Francesca Semoso, Robin Wilson, Albert Punghau and Fidelis Semoso to the airport. They later left for Port Moresby.