KAPAVORE PUSHES TO REVIVE JACQUINOT BAY MILITARY BASE

CAPTION: Defence Minister and Pomio MP Elias Kapavore

A proposal for the Jacquinot Forward Operations base is before the Pomio District Development Authority Board and Minister for Defence the Hon Elias Kapavore, MP, is ardent work on the planned base must start.

Minster for Defence, Elias Kapavore is pushing for the Jacquinot Bay to be reestablished as the military base for the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF).

The Minister led a delegation visit to Pomio District last week, announcing special upgrades for the district.

During the announcement, Kapavore said the Jacquinot Forward Operating Base was shelved since 2018, however, given its strategic position and history, it has a strong endorsement for its establishment.

Kapavore said the PNGDF have picked Wunung as the site for the proposed base and the DDA Board would now have to make a resolution and seek endorsement from the East New Britain Provincial Executive Board before commencing negotiations with the landowners.

The Defense minister said the planned base is not his own idea but an old military plan that will now happen to help ships guard the eastern exclusive economic zone and use its World War II history to build closer ties with Australia.

The Jacquinot Bay sits at the south coast of the New Britian Island and is located in Pomio District.