NAC concerned about project attack

The armed men on early Thursday evening ambushed foreign employees of contractor China Railway Construction Engineering Group who were transporting a paver machine to the Gurney Airport project site.

The attack, an armed holdup, saw two Chinese nationals injured, one sustaining serious knife wounds to the head and wrist and is currently receiving treatment at the Alotau Provincial Hospital.

National Airports Corporation [NAC] Acting Managing Director Dominic Kaumu described the attack as cowardly and a direct obstruction to progress and service delivery.

The incident at Gurney threatens to delay runway asphalting works, currently in progress, which may prolong the current aircraft downgrades.

It's understood earlier in the week on July 6 at around 10pm, a similar incident was also reported from the Hoskins Airport upgrade team, a national supervision consultant was robbed during a breakin at his residence where critical project documents and his laptop were stolen, which may affect project timelines.

Meanwhile, police and the community have been urged to work together to apprehend the culprits in both incidents.