Lae PMV association gets new board members

NEW board members of the Route 4 PMV Association were sworn in last Friday at Bumayong to oversee operations of public motor vehicles on the route.
The board is led by new chairman Kopen Vaibang and includes nine other members who were sworn in by the legal officer from the Morobe government, Clive Kalake.
The nine supporting Vaibang are Wavia Ganeki (deputy chairman), Ruben Wafi (secretary), Yamandi Wapi (treasurer), Wes Waga (legal rep), Tent City PSC Sergeant Graham Boram (law and order rep), Morgan Boniepe (PMV operators rep), Nabak LLG president Jayford Mavo (government rep) Imelda Gebob (women’s rep), and Enoch Bafinu (traffic registry rep).
Vaibang said there are five transport routes in Morobe and they are Lae City (route 1), Bulolo (route 2), Highlands Highway to Ramu (route 3), Bumayong, Nabak, Bukawa (route 4), and Erap-Wain (route 5).
Route two has been effective in executing activities, Vaibang said.
“I do not know how other routes operate but for us, we just started to put things in line so we can be competitive to implement laws to guide PMV operators using this route. This is a history and first time for route 4 to have a board in place.
“Route 4 had been in operation for years but there was no board except for executives.”
Vaibang said route 4 is a rural route. The board’s priority is to encourage local people ventured into the transport industry. Priority is given to locals within Nawaeb and others in Morobe.
“This is how we set out the priorities of issuing licences to operate in route 4. Our point in doing this is to encourage the locals to rise up and compete in the transport industry,” Vaibang said.