Hold food processors accountable: Chair

Food processing companies in Lae should be held accountable for not properly managing their domestic waste, says Morobe Fisherman Association chairman Sasa Zibe.
Zibe said a bad smell, allegedly from the waste of food processors, had been creating havoc for the community at Voco point area for the past two weeks.
“Our Lae City Authority, which is the right government authority, should make sure this people are held accountable for not doing their job properly,” he said.
He said food processing companies within the city should control their waste discharges from their factories.
“It affects the locals at Voco Point area, it’s a health issue and an environmental issue for the people there, I want the LCA to reprimand the companies,” he said.
The former member of Huon Gulf for two terms (2002-2012), said the new government must look into environmental issues affecting the people.
“We cannot ignore these things, our local environment, our fish and animals are dying because of our own doing and we must stop it now,” he said.
A senior resident from Voco Point area said the smell was so bad that they could not eat or breathe at night.
“There must be an outlet somewhere, we don’t know, we bought food but we cannot eat because the smell is bad,” he said.
“There are people living here in these streets, they are prone to get sick, the smell is so bad, I don’t know which industries are responsible.”