Parkop: We will get city ready

 By FREDDY MOU

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop wants to make Port Moresby ready to host the APEC leaders’ summit in 2018.

He has plans to make the capital the best city in the region. More than 20 leaders, including the presidents of the United States and China, are expected to attend the summit and experience the lifestyle of the people of a country branded as the land of the cannibalism by some world media publications.

Parkop signed an agreement last Friday with Curtain Brothers to build a 2km four-lane ring-road around the Paga Hill beachfront.

The project will cost K50 million and will cover the road from Ela Beach, around Paga Hill and to the main wharf.

The funding comes from the Government through the National Gaming Control Board. 

“We are ready to take up the challenges and we cannot wait and relax,” he said.

“The two important events are just around the corner and I assure the people of Port Moresby city and the country that we will definitely deliver in time and will make the leaders coming for the events proud and our people as well.”

He said Curtain Brothers had been awarded the contract through a normal tender process and work should start soon.

Parkop thanked Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for his success in getting the nod to host the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2018 and supporting preparation work for the 2015 Pacific Games. 

He assured O’Neill that the National Capital District Commission would back him in whatever decision he made. 

He thanked the National Government for allocating  funds for the project.

Parkop warned people who possessed land titles at Paga Hill to start coming forward with plans to develop that land before he filed submissions in court to forfeit their titles.

“As long as I am the chairman of the Physical Planning Board, I want those who have the land title at the Paga Hill to start developing the land or else they will be shipped out or the board will forfeit their titles” he said. 

“Paga Hill will be an iconic area where everything will be established according to the physical planning board plans.”