All PMV bus and trucks servicing route 1/2 in Wewak, East Sepik, have pulled their services off the road yesterday causing total chaos to hundreds of public servants, company employees and the general travelling public.
The PMVs stop-work was a result of an unsuccessful attempt by the operators to get the travelling public to agree on a 30 toea fare increase during a meeting at Yawasoro on Sunday.
The public have complained that the PMVs have been charging a fare which has not been approved and gazetted by the Government.
But the PMV operators said with the increase in fuel prices and spare parts, they were left with no option but to charge the passengers in order to sustain their operations and at the same time provide service to the travelling public.
The PMVs operating between the proposed satellite town at Yawasoro and Wewak without the approval of the Land Transport Board have added 30 toea to the original price of 70 toea per passenger.
However, that did not go down well with the public, who complained that there was no approval from the Independent Consumer Competition Commission (ICCC) and the Land Transport Board (LTB) as yet, even though there was an announcement made by ICCC for an increase in urban PMV fares throughout the country.
PMV operators’ spokesperson Mathew Wangi told The National that their stop-work, which started yesterday, would continue for an indefinite period until the circular approving the new fare was issued to them by the LTB.
Mr Wangi said if the new fare was not to their expectation, they would put a complete stop to show their disagreement.
He said the operators would also instruct the Yawasoro based auxiliary police to ensure that vehicles servicing other routes throughout East Sepik do not service the 1/2 route during their absence.
Meanwhile, Wewak traffic police have thrown their support behind the passengers adding that it was unlawful for PMVs to charge passengers K1 when there were no official document certifying the fare increase.
They said that it was an offence to charge new fares without the approval from the LTB and passengers could always lodge a formal complaint at the Wewak traffic counter if they were affected.