Economy. Papua New Guinea press review
Papua New Guinea airline operators will continue to comply with the directions of the State Emergency Controller not to uplift passengers from the two border provinces of Western and Sandown province (West Sepik). Acting Chief Executive Officer Air Niugini Bruce Alabaster: “I can assure the government today that Air Niugini will not be uplifting any passengers from Daru, Wewak, and Vanimo as those provinces are high risk”.
Air Niugini has revealed that the Airline has lost a lot in revenue due to the State of Emergency, but Bruce Alabaster did not disclose the exact figure and added that at this stage it is not about the money but doing what is right for the country.
In turn, the Huon Gulf Development Authority (HGDDA) has bought two earth-moving machines to build roads and improve access to the Salamaua hinterland (Morobe Province). The authorities expect that the development of road infrastructure will increase socio-economic activities in the area. The new machines include a bulldozer costing K1,023,000 and an excavator costing K528,000 from supplier and dealer UMW Niugini Ltd. According to local MP Ross Seymour, the bulldozer would continue the road project linking Buansing and Mubo and the excavator would be used in the building of the Buakap-Sabaya road to link interior Salamaua villages. “The Salamaua hinterland has been in the dark for decades though we’ve constructed the road as far Sabaya but soil erosion has caused landslips,” said Mr. Ross Seymour.
R. Seymour acknowledged the Government and National Planning and Monitoring Minister Sam Basil for allocating K1.5 million in PIP (Provincial Improvement Programme) funding to buy the machines. District chief executive officer Moses Wanga commended Seymour ‘for his efforts in improving road infrastructure in the district as well as enabling development and access to services’. According to M.Wanga, road maintenance was the biggest challenge as many roads were affected by flooding, erosion, landslips and a lack of funding for regular maintenance. R. Seymour also facilitated the construction of Sapa-Pema (Morobe Province), Asini-Kamiatum (Salamaua), Rumion-Fanzum-Bogeba (Wampar) and 41 Mile-Mafanazo-Maralina (Lower Watut) access roads.
https://www.onepng.com/2020/04/airline-operators-in-png-comply-with-soe.html
https://www.onepng.com/2020/04/air-niugini-experiences-loss-in-revenue.html
https://www.thenational.com.pg/district-buys-machines-to-build-roads/7