PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, May 6, 2008) –Port Moresby’s Jackson’s Airport will undergo a facelift after a joint agreement was signed between the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and National Capital District Commission NCDC on Friday.

Chairman Rex Paki said Works, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Don Polye had been adamant CAA should upgrade Jackson’s Airport to an acceptable standard.

"We have major plans to upgrade all our 22 airports and 400 airstrips given the current economic boom expected with regards to the PNG Gas Project and the increasing influx of tourists,’’ Mr Paki said. "However, CAA’s current infrastructure cannot cope with the volume of aviation traffic we are anticipating."

NCDC Governor Powes Parkop said so far NCDC had allocated PGK7 million [US$2.6 million] to develop and maintain the city and he was happy to go into partnership with CAA to take on the airport.

"The airport is the first and last impression of visitors when they come into our city and country, and so we need to protect our country’s image,’’ he said. "We are only there to plan and facilitate and should leave it to the experts to deliver quality services to our people," Mr Parkop said.

Under the agreement, CAA will make a monthly payment of payment of PGK54,000 [US$20,656] to engage PNG Gardener to beautify the airport.

PNG Gardener owner Justin Tkatchenko has pledged to transform the airport into a "mini Singapore’’, beautifying it with a wide range of plants including orchids in his one-year contract. Its renewal would depend on performance.

Governor Parkop has again called on the city residents and business houses to be responsible with their litter to help maintain cleanliness in the city.

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