Locals praise logging firm: They’ve done a lot for us

By REBECCA KUKU
Communities in the Raicoast area came out in numbers to support the Golden Rise Ltd logging company when Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) carried out a joint taskforce operation with the Department of Labour and Police last week to do spot checks on passports, visa and work permits in the area.
Former Raicoast councillor Wansi Kosi says the owner of logging company, Golden Rise Ltd, has, for the past few years, helped communities to build classrooms, houses for teachers and health workers and health centres.
“The Government is not here,” he said.
“He (the owner) has helped many communities, not only in Raicoast but also in other parts of the province, including Madang town.
“We want him to stay because he employs us.
“He has only seven foreigners working who also teach our sons various skills and they pay us really good money – security guards get K500 fortnightly and operators get K700. He (the owner) is fair and kind.”
Other villagers also voiced the same sentiments.
The ICA carried out the joint-operation last week to inspect passports, visa and work permits of logging company workers in Raicoast last week, they found all the papers of the seven foreigners at Golden Rise Ltd’s logging site in order.
Deputy team leader Daniel Pakea applauded Golden Rise Ltd for setting the bar as a role model logging company.
“I am happy to see that the local staff are well paid, and also taught skills,” he added.
Pakea also told the locals who had gathered at the port that the authorities were not their enemy.
“We are not here to shut down companies or stop their businesses,” he said.
“We are here to ensure that they comply with laws of our country.
“That they are here doing what they are supposed to do.”