| Business |
A horrid highway
Looting of cargo
bound for destinations in the highlands and overseas markets have
been a major problem for trucking firms using the Highlands
Highway. PETER KORUGL reports
Hundreds of people got drunk last
weekend in the Waghi valley of the Western Highlands province from
liquor looted from a truck.
The East West owned truck got bogged at Aviamp, several kilometers
outside of Mount Hagen, and villagers looted the liquor from one
of the two containers carried by the truck.
And the looting has prompted Goroka based trucking company, East
West to consider pulling its trucks off the highway between Goroka
and Mount Hagen due to the condition of the Highlands Highway.
The looting was confirmed by a senior manager with Trade Winds
Liquor Limited in Lae that K100, 000 worth of spirits were looted.
"That is a lot of liquor and there were a lot of drunken people in
the valley - from Minj to Banz, Avi, Kondopina and Aviamp," Trades
Winds Liquor Branch Manager Amos Tepi told The National Weekender.
The looters not only cut through the metal containers to get at
the liquor and other store goods but they did extensive damage to
the vehicle, which is now sitting at the depot in Mount Hagen.
"Gentlemen, attach is some shots of the latest looting. Shots
showing what we mean when we're saying unloading from the sides of
the containers...and see what they can do with cabin upholstery,
windscreen/glasses, dashboard instruments, battery, fuel...the
list goes on and on," Operations Manager of East West Transport
Hane Badu told clients in a note last Monday.
This is not the first time that liquor had been looted from trucks
along the highlands highway.
A few years ago, a truck ran off the Koronigle Bridge in Kerowagi
into the river with its load of liquor.
Villagers braved the strong currents and cut their way into the
containers and looted the liquor which was sold very cheaply to
travelers along the highway as well as from those in Kerowagi.
A lot of people were injured and homes were burnt down in many
communities as a result of the drunken brawls that eventuated.
Looting of cargo bound for destinations in the highlands and
overseas markets have been a major problem for trucking firms
using the Highlands Highway.
This and other crimes have been a major concern for trucking firms
that are the lifeline of the people and businesses including the
resource projects in the Highlands.
One of the strategies identified by the government to promote
economic development was to improve the law and order situation
along the Highlands Highway and ensure the safety of resource
projects in the Highlands.
To understand crime on the highway and develop relevant strategies
to deal with the situation, a study was needed.
The National Research Institute was commissioned by AusAID under
its Law and Justice Sector program, to undertake that study.
The study's objective was to gain information on the types and
cost of crime on the highway so that the trucking industry and law
enforcing agencies ascertain trends in crime levels, provide data
that can inform programs and strategies to counter crime and
monitor outcomes of crime prevention and control measures.
The highway is the single most important road in PNG, services
over half the country's population, six provinces, major resource
projects and the agriculture sector.
The road also serves the rural population that is involved in a
large informal economic activity.
The study found that the state of the highway contributes to crime
and posses risk of travel.
Average annual daily traffic ranged from 500 to 10, 700 vehicles
over 30 sections of the highway with an average of 3,420 vehicles
per section.
Estimated average breakdown of traffic along the highway were 15.4
per cent medium and heavy trucks, 50.5 per cent light trucks, 22.7
per cent PMV trucks and 11.3 per cent private passenger vehicles.
The industry and police agree that crime against trucks occur when
trucks stop or are moving slowly.
The industry and police inform the study that the further trucks
go from Lae, the worse crime gets with violence and the threat of
violence is an integral part of the problem.
There are nine major trucking firms in the industry for an average
26 years, all were based in Lae with depots throughout the
highlands, employ some 1400 staff, operate 195 prime movers that
make 1500 trips per month and had a total turnover of about K112
million per year.
The industry is of the view that crime is a major problem for
them, other motorist and people living along the highway - a road
which is of critical importance to the economy of PNG.
"The highlands highway is a national asset...it is the only means
of transport for the highlands. The government must look after it,
it is the lifeline for the five highlands provinces and Morobe,"
one senior manager summed up the view of the industry.
The study found that the crime problem was getting worse and the
police with the community were doing a bad job at minimizing it,
that theft was the main concern and companies were resorting to
radio call-up systems, change travel times, run in conveys and
engage help from roadside villagers when trucks break down.
The industry noted that guns, axes, knives, iron bars and sticks
were weapons used by the criminals.
The study found that theft, armed violence, drugs, accidents were
among the crimes reported by Police with the industry highlighting
theft of cargo, theft of trucks own fuel and equipment, theft of
parts, village road tolls, violence against drivers and fraudulent
compensation claims against trucking companies as major concerns.
The study was able to estimate that K7.1 million (6.3%) of total
industry turnover was direct cost suffered for crime, K10.1
million as indirect cost through loss of revenue because trucks
could not travel out of the total K112.5 million turnover.
The cost of fuel theft was estimated at K2.1 million, theft of
general cargo was K800, 000 and other theft was K200, 000.
The single biggest cost was vehicle repairs at K2.2 million and
false compensation and fraud amounting to K600, 000 while cost of
security was K1.3 million
The study observed the role police play on the highway with the
industry stating that the law enforcing agency can do better.
The study recommended the following measures:
Employment creation.
To reduce crime, more employment should be created for those
perpetrators to reduce crime.
Police reform:
The study found that police living and work conditions be improved
to boost performance and morale.
Road rehabilitation
The highland highway should maintained to prevent reduce chances
of crime
Whole of Government Approaches
Police to shut down unlicensed fuel and liquor outlets and key
stakeholders should be brought in to address these issues and
accept the role they have to play.
Liquor Licenses
Police should be supported by governments to close down unlicensed
liquor outlets along the highway.
Where Provincial Governments allow sale, new licenses should not
be issued or outlets should be 500 meters away from the highway.
Unlicensed liquor outlets
Police should be supported to close down unlicensed outlets along
the highway.
The ultimate cost of crime on the highway is born by the ordinary
people. It means higher prices for fuel, store goods and other
essential items that are moved by the trucks.
It also means reduced returns on export of coffee, tea and other
farm produce from the highlands.
"In the community, they don't understand yet that they are paying
for the cost of crime. Eventually the trade goods will be more
expensive," one manager best concluded.
 
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