Leader: Dinghy owners must pay

 MARITIME authorities will have to come down on dinghy operators and owners by imposing strict regulations to avoid accidents at sea.

The regulation will also ensure passengers’ safety at sea.

Bumbu settlement woman leader Agia Nimbi from Amoa village, Morobe post, raised the concern after a 75hp dinghy capsized off the coast of Salamaua at 12am last Tuesday.

On board was Young Jimmy and 42 bags of betel nuts. 

Jimmy’s corpse was retrieved on Saturday at Labu-Tale village by motorists during a search.

Nimbi said that Jimmy, from Paiewa and Zinamba parentage was with the operator and two others on their way to Lae from Popondetta, with the bags of betel nut.

“At a stop-over in Salamaua point, Jimmy had an argument with the operator and snatched the key of him.

“He started the engine and headed to Lae alone; however, the boat capsized,” Nimbi said.  

She said that marine authorities needed to impose regulations to ensure operators had licences, emergency and safety equipment and loading criteria for passengers and cargo to avoid overloading.