Namah wishes Captain Nonggor-r well on his retirement

OPPOSITION Leader Belden Namah has congratulated and wished Air Niugini Captain Paun Nonggor-r well on his retirement after 45 years of service as a pilot for the national airline.
“Well done Captain, I salute you. You have done your family, your people, your country and yourself proud,” Namah said.
“It is truly inspiring and uplifting to see pioneers finish off with a flare in fine and distinguished fashion.
“Captain Nonggor-r is among a group of PNG’s finest in the field of aviation.
“There are others in maritime navigation, engineering, architecture, accounting and other specialised fields who can be said to be the true and unsung heroes and heroines of PNG.
“They are the ones who deserve our highest accolades and recognition such as the Queen’s Award and those under the Logo Awards.
“For too long we have rewarded people in politics, business and public service and concentrated too little on our professionals and technocrats.
“But it is a sad truth that politics, bureaucracy and business sink our reputation often while our professionals and technocrats continue to bring us international recognition.”
Meanwhile, the proposal by Prime Minister James Marape to change the name of the Nadzab International Airport to PNG-Japan Friendship Airport is wrong and demeans the airport’s historical significance, Namah said.
“I mean no disrespect for our good friends, the people and government of Japan, but they are well aware of the history of Nadzab because it is in their history books too,” he said.
Namah said after Japan occupied Lae and Salamaua in March 1943, Allied forces led by the US started the liberation of Lae with a paratrooper assault landing at Nadzab and a simultaneous amphibious assault at Kamkumung.