Fourth firm to operate at wharf

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 9th May 2013

 A FOURTH stevedoring company has been invited to operate at the Lae wharf, local MP Loujaya Toni revealed yesterday.

She said this was agreed to by the principal landowners of the Lae wharf, the Busurum-Wafi Gulu clans of Butibam village, who have taken sides with the national government over the dispute which led to the 48-hour closure of the country’s premier port on Tuesday.

At a media conference in Lae yesterday, Toni said the Busurum-Wafi Gulu landowners, have invited Patrick’s Stevedoring of Australia to operate at the wharf.

“This is a 50-50 arrangement and the landowners are happy with it,” Toni, who is also the minister for community development, religion and youth, said. 

“We must break the monopoly. 

“There’s enough room for other players.

“There’s space enough for a healthy competition.

“Why is Riback afraid?” she asked, referring to one of the stevedoring companies currently operating at the Lae wharf, which is backed by anoth­er faction of landow­ners.

These landowners and their companies last month petitioned the government not to allow a fourth stevedoring company to operate at the wharf.

They argued that the presence of a new stevedoring company would make many of their workers redundant and disadvantage their landowner companies.

However, Toni dispelled concerns over the closure of wharf, saying: “The principal landowners of Butibam have aligned with the government of the day and Patrick’s Stevedores.”

She added that Public Enterprise and State Investment Minister Ben Micah was negotiating with Patrick’s Stevedoring for a good benefits package for the landowners.  

Toni reiterated that the current 49%-51% arrangement the landowners had with Steamships Trading Company was not benefiting the landowners.

“That port needs to be opened immediately.”

She also called on the Ahi youths not to support people “who are teaming up with the opposition and politicising the issue”. 

“We will not entertain divide and rule tactics,” Toni said.

Ahi local level government president Sam Agi said the wharf should not be closed as it would affect the people of Lae and Morobe.

Agi said that dialogue was the best way to resolve the problem.

“I agree with Toni that dialogue is the best way to solve the problem.

“Don’t rush and take action,” he told the other landowner factions.