Official confident of reopening track

 By MALUM NALU

BLACK Cat Track Association chairman Ninga Yawa is confident that the iconic trail can be reopened after last September’s attack that left  three porters dead, several injured and eight expatriate trekkers injured or shocked.

He said this yesterday when asked on the possibility of the track reopening.

“We are waiting for the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) to come and meet us,” Yawa said. “We will then carry out awareness at all villages along the track.

“The awareness is to explain to villages along the trail what tourism is, how we can benefit and how we can participate.

“Once we find the thoughts of the villagers from Wau to Salamaua, we will then look at reviving the Black Cat Track.

Yawa said that all this would cost money and appealed to the TPA, Morobe Governor Kelly Naru and provincial division of culture and tourism for assistance.

“Our major problem is funding,” he said.

“If the government can fund us more, that’s okay.

“We need to appeal to Morobe Governor Kelly Naru that mining is a non-renewable resource.