Plans in place to upgrade Pomio airstrip

A PLAN to upgrade the Jacquinot Bay airstrip in Pomio, East New Britain, is well advanced, according to the West Pomio-Mamusi local level government (LLG) president.
The airstrip is situated in the West Pomio-Mamusi LLG of Pomio.
Its a three-minute drive from the airstrip to the Pomio administration and government station at Palmalmal.
According to the LLG president, Paul Palosualrea, the airstrip was built in 1942, during World War II by American, Australian and New Zealand soldiers.
Palosualrea told The National at the launching of the life-saving and smile-spreading project yesterday that plans were to upgrade the standard of the airstrip to cater for third level airlines.
Palosualrea said Pomio had tourism potential.
“We want to market our products to the tourists and also we want the tourists to visit and see some of these products so there is a need for us to upgrade this airstrip,” he said.
Palosualrea said he would discuss the issue with other LLG presidents so they could bring it to the attention of their MP and Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Elias Kapavore.
With assistance and support from Kapavore, they can make changes to the airstrip, Palosualrea said.
Tropic Air was providing air service in the area.