Relatives blame EHP leaders for driver’s death

By ZACHERY PER
RELATIVES of a PMV driver shot dead by robbers near Henganofi in Eastern Highlands last Sunday are blaming the leaders of the Eastern Highlands team to the PNG Games for his death.
They said the management should have organised the transport arrangement earlier instead of making a “last-minute rush”.
Wampar councillor Apir Wapip said the PMV was not for hire but the management insisted on it.
The driver was transporting some of the athletes back to Goroka when several robbers ambushed them.
Bus crew member Peter Gawi said they were not working that day and were on their way to Lae to visit a relative.
“When we arrived at Eriku, four officials of the Eastern Highlands team approached us and begged continuously to help transport their athletes to Goroka,” he told The National.
As they approached a corner at Keminave village near Henganofi, seven armed men appeared.
One of them fired a shot which struck the driver in the head, killing him instantly.
Realising that the driver was dead, bowler Fred Tom rushed forward to get to the brake pedal.
“We were going uphill when the incident occurred.
“If I did not intervene, the bus would slide backwards and rolled over a cliff,” he said.
“They dragged the driver’s body out of the bus and then drove along the road leading to Fayantina area, but found the road too slippery and decided to stop,” he said.
He said the robbers removed all their belongings and also told the girls to strip down to their underwear.
An official of the Eastern Highlands team blamed the Eastern Highlands provincial government for failing to fulfill a K40,000 commitment which would have enabled them to pay for transport and security.
Mr Wynne Wamavi said that they raised K1,300 from a fund-raising dance in Lae and used K500 to pay for the PMV.
He said a clerk from the provincial assembly brought over a cheque for K300 to Lae.
“It was a mockery,” he said.