Eviction ongoing: Tupiri

 By SHEILA MALKEN

NATIONAL Airports Corporation acting managing director Joseph Tupiri says the eviction of illegal occupants on the aerodrome land at 7-Mile in Port Moresby has been an ongoing exercise.

He said the Skid Road eviction was part of the exercise.

“NAC has the very unpopular and tough task of securing the land from illegal occupants,” Tupiri said. He said the aerodrome land and other airports around the country would be re-developed for the people of Papua New Guinea. 

When asked about the Komo airport in Hela and Hayfield airstrip redevelopment in Maprik, East Sepik, Tupiri said the Komo airport was owned by the PNG LNG project. 

“The Government, through NAC, has recently signed an MOU under which the airport can be used by commercial operators,” he said.

“This is to support the economic growth through diversification of the economic base of the region including tourism and agriculture.”

He said two slots were available daily. 

Commercial operators need to sign a “facility use agreement” that sets out the terms and conditions under which the commercial operation can happen. 

Tupiri said the Maprik Hayfield airport was not owned by the NAC. 

“NAC owns and operates only 22 gazetted national airports. Last year the Maprik district administration requested the NAC to manage the redevelopment of this airport. We have assisted with the design.”