Police hoping to see flights return soon

By TONY PALME
POLICE are hoping that Kagamuga Airport in Mt Hagen will reopen today to allow Air Niugini and Airlines PNG flights to resume.
The airport was closed yesterday by members of a landowner group from the Yamka tribe who
claimed that National Airports Corporation had not fairly recruited locals to provide security at the premises.
Provincial police commander Jacob Kamiak who monitored the situation at the airport with his officers said the group wanted the NAC to reconsider its recruitment policy.
“NAC had put out a tender for security firms to apply to provide security at the airport after the contract of the previous firm expired,” he said. “While that tender process was in progress, locals requested NAC to recruit seven men from each of the four council wards to work there. But only three council wards sent in their seven men.
“No one from the fourth ward was recruited.
“That led the group to close the airport.
“They asked that the other men already working be removed and the NAC to reconsider its decision.”
He said they were good people who all wanted spin-off benefits to be shared equally.
“We are here to ensure there is no further delays or cancellation of flights and other operations.
“We want this important service opened.”