Shock over loss of navigational aids
By ROMULUS MASIU
ALL navigational aids along Bougainville’s eastern coastline have already been destroyed or vandalised.
The navigational aids, which cost the Government millions of kina and erected last year include lighthouses and markings for guiding vessels into the regions’ ports.
The “shocking news” was highlighted last week by the Member for Kokoda (Kieta district) Rodney Job Osioco during question time of the Bougainville House of Representatives (BHR) in Buka.
The lighthouses on Bougainville’s coastline were built last year as part of the National Government’s programme to equip all its maritime provinces with lighthouses and markings for the safety of its local and overseas vessels sailing the respective ports.
Bougainville was included in the programme as it is one of the country’s maritime provinces.
The others provinces which benefited from the programme are East New Britain, West New Britain, Manus and New Ireland.
Mr Osioco told the BHR that all the lighthouses along the eastern-coastline starting from Tonolei harbour (Buin) to Kieta were destroyed or vandalised by local people.
“This is a very big problem as under the maritime law, big vessels coming into the waters of the country must have aids to guide them. With the destruction of the navigational equipment along the coastlines, this certainly breaches the maritime law and would affect the region economically,” he said.
ABG Ports and Transport Minister Joseph Watawi said destruction of such navigational aid equipment is a very big concern for the region and the country.
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