Lae PMV owners call for respect

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 06th of March, 2014

By PISAI GUMAR
LAE PMV operators are appealing to people to respect their properties and to approach them in an appropriate manner when accidents occur instead of burning vehicles and ripping off parts.
PMV owners Rex Guli and Francis Namba were saddened by the attitude of people living along the road sides in the city and highways.
“It costs us K160,000 for a 25-seater bus. We pay for registration, insurance as well as spare part costs; and it’s unbecoming of civilised people practising uncivilised manners without following appropriate procedures to solve such problems,” Namba said.
“PMV owners pay compensation for lives lost or properties damaged, which is a common culture to show sympathy and practised only in PNG.”
Once such accident occurred at Kamkumung on Tuesday involving two schoolchildren and a woman.
Namba appealed to police traffic and community policing, including leaders, to educate people to follow appropriate ways.
“It’s a pain in heart to see our PMVs involved in accidents and being burnt to ashes; we feel and sympathise for lives lost,” Guli said.
Lae-based Maita Yawi wants PMV operators to have proper identification on their PMV buses and established offices to allow people to approach them in an appropriate manner when accidents occur.