‘Highway a disaster zone’

By GABRIEL LAHOC
THE Papua New Guinea Road Transport Association wants to the Highlands Highway, starting from the Lae wharf and ending in Porgera and Hides in the Southern Highlands, to be declared a disaster zone.
President Jacob Luke said the iconic highway serving as the nation’s economic nerve centre was “unsafe for use by motor vehicle owners”.
Of particular concern was the constant threats on trucking business from landowners and the deteriorating road conditions.
“We would welcome prolonged or total closure to attract national attention rather than causing truckers to suffer,” he said, taking into consideration the operations of multinational companies that could help.
“The condition of the road can be condemned by the international community that promotes safety and health, the government does not compensate the trucking industry for their neglected responsibilities in ensuring a good road,” Luke said.
 “The minority being displaced and have issues must be addressed promptly and rested once and for all, people’s issues do not run away until resolved.”
He was responding to a story published in The National last week where landowners issued threats against developers and the trucking industry, which he said demonstrated that the government had failed to control them and address their issues.
The association now is now demanding that the outstanding issues involving locals along the highway be restricted between them and the national government.
Luke said innocent heavy trucking companies should not be held to ransom.
 “The trucking companies create employment like any other group of employers and taxpayers and must be accorded the respect it demands.”