Wampar people against renaming of airport

THE Wampar people have expressed their opposition to plans by Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu to rename Nadzab Airport in honour of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
Local leaders said the idea lacked common consensus from the people of Morobe.
Saonu announced the renaming of Nadzab Airport during Sir Michael’s haus krai in Port Moresby and funeral service in Wewak respectively.
The Gabsongkeg villagers, however, opposed the idea during a recent community meeting.
They raised their frustration over their governor’s intention with some calling it a “knee-jerk” idea that did not consider the people of Morobe and sought their consent.
Wampar local level government deputy president and Gabsongkeg councillor Bill Justin, former Huon-Gulf MP Ben Gary, community leader Paul Joshua, Gabsongkeg Landowner’s Association chairman Philip Elijah, women and youth representatives from the nine clans that own the Nadzab Airport land have expressed opposition against the proposal.
“The word Nadzab and the airport has cultural and historical significance locally and internationally, we cordially invite Saonu to come address us,” the petition stated.
“Saonu cannot come and dump our Grand Chief Sir Michael’s name into many unresolved mess he (Saonu) and his administration created in Nadzab,”,” Joshua said.