THE date of the official opening of the upgraded Kavieng Airport is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation through the National Airports Corporation and the New Ireland Provincial Government, says Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation.
Walter Schnaubelt said this when responding to New Ireland Provincial Government’s (NIPG) bid to boycott the opening which is scheduled for November 3 after its purported scheduled grand opening on 27th October, was deferred.
New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan announced on social and the mainstream media that his government will disassociate itself from the opening following continuous deferrals after learning that Prime Minister James Marape had decided not to attend last Thursday’s scheduled grand opening due to prior commitments.
However, Minister Schnaubelt explained that this is because the Prime Minister had an important Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting between the Autonomous Bougainville Government on October 27, the date set by New Ireland Provincial Government in consultation with the managing director of National Airports Corporation (NAC) but without involving the Minister responsible.
“Conversation on the opening should have included the office of the Minister,” he said.
“Prime Minister Marape, who later realised, immediately wrote to Sir J sincerely advising him of his unavailability and the oversight caused on his calendar.
“The other reason was that Sir J changed the first date of the opening earlier on 22nd October to fit in his medical appointment in Australia (understandable) and the fact is that Minister’s office was not consulted. The first date was set with the NAC and not with the Minister responsible. That is why I had to defer the set date for the opening and find a date suitable for everyone including the MP for Kavieng and the Prime Minister.
He said it is a National Government programme and National Airports Corporation (NAC) as the Government entity responsible will carry the cost of the deferrals.
Schnaubelt who is also the Namatanai MP apologised to Sir J and people of New Ireland Province for this delay and inconvenience caused.
“Nevertheless, as regrettable as it is, we must move on from here in the best interest of the Marape/Rosso Government, NIPG, ADB and the traveling public,” he said.
“Prime Minister James Marape, Minister for Treasury and Member for Kavieng, Ian Ling- Stuckey have confirmed to attend the opening on the 3rd of November and we now await Sir J’s confirmation of the same.”
