By Meriba Tulo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
There is a possibility that the Buka Airport may be closed indefinitely from Saturday onwards if issues are not addressed by the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
In a statement today, Wednesday, December 19, National Airports Corporation Acting Managing Director Richard Yopo has said unless the ABG Authorities put in place commitments and strategies to ensure that the fencing works can continue without disruption and that Law and Order are maintained at the airport on a continuous basis, NAC will be forced to close the airport, severely disrupting the holiday plans for Bougainvilleans.
Late on Tuesday, the NAC had issued a notice to the ABG, calling on the authorities to deal with what had been described as the continuous issues, regarding the safety of NAC infrastructure and assets.
Interfering with and damaging of the runway PAPI Lights, Pedestrians and animals crossing, vehicles driving on the runway, runway strips being used as a playground by the nearby village and Buka Town residents have been a norm, forcing the NAC to take this latest action.
