Gulf PMV operators want ‘outsiders’ out

The National Main Stories

PMV operators from Gulf are concerned that “outsiders” are taking over their business to transport goods and passengers between Port Moresby and Kerema.
They gathered at the Sir Bill Skate Oval in Kaugere, Port Moresby, and came up with a petition.
They plan to organise a protest meeting and will hand their petition to Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta in Kerema on Friday.
Acting Gulf PMV Association president Victor Posu said that they were seeing a huge increase of non-Gulf people running buses on route 600 between Port Moresby and Kerema along the Hiritano Highway.
“The issue we brought here is to stop all buses that are owned by non-Gulf people from doing business and competing against us,” Posu said.
“Their buses are getting all the passengers and our PMV trucks are missing out.
“We got bank loans to buy our PMV trucks and some of the trucks were taken back by the banks because truck owners are not making money to repay their loans.”
Posu believes that the Gulf transport board in Kerema is mishandling the process of issuing PMV operating permits to potential PMV operators.
“They are supposed to regulate the issuing of permits,” he said.
“Applicants have to get clearance from their respective local level government presidents before the board approves their permit; we (don’t understand) how there is an increase in non-Gulf people getting permits.”
Posu said they had 30 PMV owners who were members of the association.

23 comments

  • they run PMVs in the cities and now to Hiritano highway, not long will be Magi highway, routes 600 + 400, next 100 + 200,

  • Gulf PMV Association a good initiative, and what about Western.
    People are still sleeping.

  • Meeting customers expectation is paramount thus Gulf PMV operators need to do away with trucks and buy busses to compete with none Gulf people. Stop this nonsense regionalism call and come up with better startegies to compete in the market.

  • And which part in the world is Gulf, are they not part of PNG? Inap long complain, you need to be competitive in the market. There is no free hand outs.

  • People want to travel in comfort to their destination instead of enduring backache on Gulf owned PMVs. Why can’t they buy coaster buses to operate on that route instead of complaining? Highlanders are the ones operating buses whilst the Central and Kerema operators are still favoring the trucks.

  • It depends on how you communicate and treat passengers.
    Also if the Pom to Gulf highway is a national highway, PMV operators of Gulf do not have any right to stop interested operators running that route.

  • You go to the highlands nowadays you will hardly see PMV trucks on the main highways and roads. People need to travel in comfort, not packed up like pigs and chickens in farm trucks. Buy buses and you will see your passenger numbers rise!

  • People want to travel feeling comfortable and worth the money they spent so composition is better because you can’t rob people and passengers can negotiate with the bus or truck crew for better fare.
    Highlanders are good at that and they know how to.
    Be smart and do better and don’t complain about it.
    Highlanders are pngeans and not from the moon, they are here to stay so give them a good composition and you can be like them too because they don’t complain.
    Be smart and beat them.
    Cheers.
    Israel

  • Although competition is good, we should also understand that Gulf people also need to be respected and supported in business in their own provinces. Now they are marginalised and cannot survive in the business.
    We Highlanders are generally good in business but most times we are disrespectful to other competitors. Most important we are road traffic offenders.

    The power of choice is with the Gulf people. Road safety is more important. Relevant authorities should intervern and resolve this situation forthwith.

  • Baim ol buses, trade your trucks or use them for other purposes.For example,I work with the company that provides trucks to do pick up and drop off but every day I use to catch bus because I feel uncomfortable traveling on trucks.
    Think first before you buy trucks, 90% of the population like to travel on comfort seats while 10% will travel on truck because of cargoes or have not enough money .

  • It is kind of late though, but, it is never too late to show these grievances. It goes to those responsible in issuing permits. Isn’t there permit policy? Why can’t Gulf Province come up with strategic business plans in this area as well others, especially to assist its people? Why not issue quotas on these permits that only certain number of outsiders can be allowed permits with of course the large majority going to Gulf people. I dream of that day. Please, continue this until you are served… do not give up… it is your right to be heard and served right.

  • Gulf does not have good shipping services nor air services, hence people move bulk items like fuel drums, building materials, trade store goods, etc from Port Moresby to Gulf. Also village people bring their goods, like betelnut, sago, coconuts, and marine products. So you see we don’t really need buses. Buses are only for carrying Passengers but not cargo mention here. Some Gulf people already have buses and the numbers will increase, but trucks will always remain.

  • Trucks are the back bone of the Gulf PMV services since we had road linking NCD to Gulf. Gulf people don’t just come to POM for spin, many of them bring goods to sell to earn a living. Buses can’t carry bags of sago, betelnuts, coconuts, and marine products they are for carrying Passengers with very limited cargo. So Gulf people have always bought trucks even though we can buy buses but it’s not economical. However in recent times many Gulf people have starting buying buses and this number will increase in time. But trucks will always remain cos the villager will return back with sometime to the village, like trade store goods, building materials, water tanks, fuel drums, buses can’t carry these items but trucks will. In time their will be increase in buses by Gulf people, but trucks will still remain. Gulf do not have good air transport or sea transport, so people will use the road until these two other services improve.

  • Business is Business for PMV Trucks or Bus operators, Gulf or Non Gulf, comfort or not however, as a neutral Gulf person and a regular passenger, I would consider myself and my family’s safety first to travel to and fro the Highway on the type of motor vehicle service. As I observe, most Buses running our 600 Hiritano route today are overloaded with goods or products that a meant to be loaded on an open truck or PMVs with passengers sitting on top of each other in a single sit. It is a risk your taking when your thinking of a comfort ride when neglect your safety first and risk of overloading which may cause accidents/ incidents. Drivers as well, PMV Truck/ Bus drivers seem to not care they are carrying passengers or lives on board but want to race with time. I suggest for better service and safety of the Gulf people to travel to and fro villages and back is to consider the type of PMV’s services that are suppose to be operating on the Hiritano Highway considering the current road conditions. Otherwise, I am all good for safe travel for myself and my family to Gulf Province and back to POM/ NCD.

  • Gulf people if you want a good competition with outsiders or non gulf citizen buy buses not truck. Truck em blo 18 or 19 century, but 21st century we want or need buses to transport passengers.

  • Let me put some sense in these outburst…..best practice for forward movement is partnerships….authorities in Gulf and NCD should look at encouraging partnerships..as the facts may remain as outsiders will still be ahead and last minute catch up games will not work…as there is evidenced from the globalization effects on trade across all economies. It is a similar call to get rid of the Asians in SMEs …… but look at the reality ..they are now ending up running bakeries delivering breakfast to us.

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