PNGDF KEEN TO REBUILD LOMBRUM

Post-Courier

The Government is focused on making sure the Manus people are fully engaged in the rebuilding exercise of Lombrum Naval Base.
Defence Minister Saki Soloma said this in Manus yesterday when he thanked the Australian Government for funding this exercise.
Mr Soloma, accompanied by the PNGDF commander Major General Gilbert Toropo and Defence Secretary John Akipe, said the joint initiative must be visible and include spin-off benefits for the people of Manus.

They said the Government the people must feel the benefits in terms of security and long investment opportunities.
Manus Open MP and Speaker of Parliament Job Pomat, who stood in for the Governor for Manus Charlie Benjamin, supported them, noting that the Defence Force was engaging the Manus provincial government throughout the rebuilding exercise.
Mr Pomat said there were many issues that still needed further discussions but he agreed that engaging of the provincial government was the correct move in the roll-out of the project.
The Defence Council, which Major General Toropo and Mr Akipe were members of, said they would always make sure Manus provincial government and the administration were part of decisions made on the Lombrum base.

The PNGDF naval base in Manus is within the ongoing relationship between the PNG and Australia under the Australian Government Defence Co-operation Program.
This followed a framework memorandum of understanding signed in March this year that would see the rebuilding of the naval base as part of the co-operation package to cater for all four Guardian class patrol boats to be given by Australia.
The MOU has includes construction, usage and access as well as maintenance of the naval base facilities at Lombrum.