Look into PMV buses in Lae

MOROBE’s Lae, in recent years, has witnessed a significant increase in the number of PMV buses operating in the city.
This year, the number seems to have gone up.
This is evident through the number of traffic jams caused in Lae’s Top Town, Eriku and Main Market bus stops every day.
Most of these PMV buses are not roadworthy – the seats are falling apart, seat covers are dirty, floors are broken, mirrors are missing, smoke belching out of their broken exhaust pipes and many other issues as well.
You cannot distinguish between the bus crew and street loiterers as they all look scruffy in dressing and don’t maintain basic hygiene.
Some of them most probably have not had a shower for a week with betel nut stains all over their clothes.
The drivers have no regard for traffic rules.
They probably weren’t trained to drive.
They park in the middle of the road to pick up passengers and travel at high speed with overloaded vehicles.
Almost all of these buses are operated by people of a certain region – reflecting very badly on their way of life.
It is a bad scenario for a developing industrial and modern city.
In fact, so many gaps exist for operational improvements by relevant road authorities in the city.
Who is the central co-ordinating agency within the province to oversee the improvements and enforce traffic rules?
Is it Morobe the land transport board, Lae traffic police, National Road Transport Authority or Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd?
Who is in control?
Is it the lack of coordination and cooperation among authorities that is causing this mess in Lae?
For once, relevant stakeholders should take their responsibility seriously and quickly address this situation before 2023 where Morobe will be welcoming international visitors into Lae when Nadzab International Airport is opened.
The authorities should ensure a clean and modern public transport system is in place before we start welcoming international visitors directly arriving in Morobe.
The province has no place for irresponsible PMV operators and dirty crews in what is supposed to be a modern city.
Also, Morobe is not a dumping ground for old rundown PMVs.
The authorities should now start to take their responsibilities seriously to address this issue.

M Kalep,
Lae City