PM says airport will be upgraded

National

THE Kavieng Airport terminal and airstrip will be upgraded to an international standard after the National Executive Council approved a cabinet submission for K91 million.
Prime Minister James Marape made the announcement on Tuesday in Kavieng, where he met New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan and other provincial executive members.
He said once all the documents and payments were finalised, an official launching would be held next year when he would make a more formal visit to the province.
“I apologise for not coming in a proper way to the headquarters of New Ireland, but we will have that formal occasion next year,” he said.
“I just came to pay my respects to our senior statesman (Sir Julius) before travelling onward to Lihir and Namatanai,” he said.
Marape announced that New Ireland’s bid to amend the resource laws to give more benefits to landowners, the provincial governments and the national government would be pushed to March or April.
“But before we make those changes we have to be fair to our stakeholders, assuring them that we are not here to chase them away. We have to come up with a win-win for all,” he said.