Rundown Kerema airport facing security issues

By LUKE KAMA in Kerema, Gulf
THE Kerema airport in Gulf has serious safety and security issues due to lack of maintenance for more than 20 years, the airport’s senior safety officer Kelly Kai says.
Kai, an employee of PNG National Airports Corporation (NAC), is the officer in-charge of Kerema Airport and said there was an urgent need for airport maintenance as there were serious safety and security issues.
People are walking and crossing the airport runway at any time of day and night because the airport does not have perimeter fencing, he said. There are a number of houses and residents on the sides of the airport. Airport officers have to shout out to caution and stop people from crossing the runway when planes are approaching for landing, according to Kai.
The National was on site yesterday and witnessed safety officers shouting to stop people crossing the runway as a Tropicair plane was coming in to land.
“We currently don’t have airport perimeter fencing so we have to control the movement of people ourselves,” Kai said.
He said the Kerema airport being central served both the eastern and western part of the country and should be upgraded urgently.
“We have the Tropicair, North Coast Aviation, Helisolutions and other choppers using this airport and my employer, NAC and the national government under the Cadip (Civil Aviation Development Investment Programme) needs to urgently upgrade the airport
runway, airport perimeter fencing and build a new terminal facility,” Kai said.
He said their current operational budget was about K2000 quarterly – money used for grass-cutting and ensuring the airport was operational.
Managing director and chief executive officer of NAC Richard Yopo told The National yesterday that some work had been done and upgrading work under Cadip would start soon.
“I am the only CEO that has visited Kerema, speak to my old safety officer there,” he said.
“We have done some work on the airport and have also put additional staff. The provincial authorities are great as well and they always supported us. So their new perimetre fencing under Cadip fencing roll-out will be signed this week.”
“End of the week we are planning, so all will be fine.”