Lack of boats makes sea travel expensive

SEA transport in the Morobe Patrol Post area of Huon Gulf has been lacking for about five years now, an official says.
Ward councillor of Zare village in the Morobe local level government, Gayang Niaura, raised the concern this week.
“The lack of sea transport serving the area has been a burden to all simple village men and women,” he said.
“People spend K150 every trip from Morobe Patrol Post to Lae, just to spend more money on goods in the city to bring back to the village.
“Boat operators charge people with store goods K100 and above, because of the weight of the bulk goods. It is very expensive.
“Apart from that, piracy has been increasing, most of which is not reported to police because there are no police officers serving fulltime in that area.”
Niaura called on the Huon Gulf district administration and the Morobe provincial administration to look into the matter and let mv Rainforest, which has been sitting idle at Voco Point wharf in Lae, to operate.
Morobe LLG has four existing but rundown jetties at Morobe, Sapa, Bau Island and Eia-Gugumi.
The airstrip at Bosadi is rundown and not operating.
Niaura said economic participation by locals had seen a huge decline over the years.
“There is not much to boast about,” he said.
“Law and order problems are increasing.
“I think they can only decline once we have sea transport serving in the area.”
Huon Gulf District has three local level governments, two of which are coastal: Morobe and Salamaua.