NAC CEO RESPONDS TO STATEMENT FROM AVIATION MINISTER AND CASA DIRECTOR

NAC CEO Rex Kiponge has slammed statements released by Minister for Civil Aviation & Transport Walter Schnaulbelt and CASA Director Benedict Oroko saying they " are identical, bias and self serving".

"Both have gone to public claiming that NOTAM issued by National Airports Corporation Limited (NAC) for half day Saturday 12/11/2022 from 3am-12pm was a direct result of my arrest on Friday 11th November 2022 which is from the truth".

In their statements, they both claimed that 17 Policemen who stormed into sterilized and highly restricted areas of the airside through the Arrivals Gate at the Domestic Terminal without going through the proper security screening process is a normal police work. This is baseless to the CCTV, untrue and to cover up their actions are now a Significant Security Concern (SSC) when both Minister and Director allowed 17 unauthorized Policemen to forcefully enter the Port Moresby International Airport by-passing all Security Screening check-points at the Domestic Terminal. According to the CCTV Footage, Policemen gained entry into the airside using Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) or Red-Passes illegally issued by CASA Director. ASIC are issued by NAC and a person with ASIC who wish to enter Airside for operational requirements must be accompanied by a safety Officer. Any other entry is highly restricted and that is the rule. The question then is, does the policemen who forcefully gained into the sterilized and highly restricted area unlawfully is a "normal police duty" as claimed by the Minister and the Director? Full investigations will detail out the point of entry and whether or not proper security protocols were complied or breached. The actions of the State Minister and CASA Regulations is a serious security breach under the CA Act at our only International Airport: that cannot be over looked and demands full investigations. The NOTAM issued by NAC was imperative and lawful to carry our security risks assessment at the contaminated are from Landside to Airside to give clearance for normal operations to resume. The NOTAM issued by NAC on Saturday 12th November 3am- 12pm was direct consequence of the security breach by the agents of the Director CASA and the Minister and has NOTHING TO DO WITH MY ARREST! Read the NOTAM carefully. On my part on falling to turn up at CASA Office for interview is totally baseless. On numerous occasions, I have written between the two sister agencies arricably and insisted on an unlawful interview which led to my arrest which has no merit and basis in law, It is obvious that the Minister for Civil Aviation has catalogued with the CASA Director to attack NAC without cause and it is sad to see NAC has not been accorded its rightful place in the Civil Aviation Ministry representation for fair hearing in such cases since Walter Schnaulbelt took over as the Minister for Civil Aviation and Transport Ministry. And again, I stress that the NOTAM issued half day on Saturday 12th November 2022 has nothing to do with my arrest. I was Arrested and charged by CASA Director Mr. Benedict Oraka which the Court will determine whether he has the powers to arrest the incumbent Managing Director & CEO of NAC with the use of excessive force compromising Safety of the travelling public, the airline operators and staff of port Moresby International Airport. The CASA Director as the Regulator and State Minister responsible for safety and security of the Civil Aviation Sector has now set a dangerous precedent and is sad to see both defending their actions with impurity. On that note, I welcome the Prime Minister's directive to conduct a full investigation of the Minister of Civil Aviation & Transport .CASA Director and members of the Police Force's involvement in the incident relating to the safety and security breach and the insurance of the NOTAM for half day on Saturday 12th November 2022. The NOTAM was required by the law to sweep the entire contaminated area to restore integrity and safety and give confidence to the travelling public, airline operators and staff relating to Safety and Security concerns after the incident. NAC will release a full report after the completion of internal investigations.