Morobe needs shipping service

I AM writing in regards to an article published on Oct 1 about debts sinking a shipping company.
It’s so sad to hear that Morobe Coastal Shipping Ltd will cease its services as it is the only shipping service we have in the province.
The coastal people of Morobe depend entirely on the shipping company for its services.
We had no proper shipping services for the past years with normal schedules such as that provided by Lutheran Shipping in the past.
Star Shipping Ltd, which only provides passenger service, stopped operating for some months now.
Our newly MV Ialibu has scheduled service once a month to Wasu, Siassi and Lae providing passenger services, leaving our cash crops and fish behind.
The people of Kabwum and Tewai-Siassi rely on Morobe Coastal Shipping Ltd for shipping services.
The two vessels to be sold (MV Maneba/MV Geamsao) have been very helpful to the province for the past years – transporting cash crops, fuel, building materials and passengers, from Wasu, Tewai-Siassi and Finschhafen to Lae.
Due to the lack of shipping services in Morobe, people have risked their lives trying to reach home.
Many were lost at sea while travelling home because there is no proper shipping schedule.
A good example could be those who died trekking the Sarawaget Ranges.
These people were from Kabwum and Tewai-Siassi who normally travelled by MV Morobe Rainforest from Lae to Wasu and then catch a vehicle to their respective homes.
The Morobe government should take this into consideration.
This has also caused increased prices in necessities and fuel for people back in the villages.
As mentioned in the article, the company has come to a pause because of debt owed to service providers.
As a concerned Islander, I suggest the company should not sell those two vessels but have shareholders to talk things out and outline some beneficial points at the soonest.
I am appealing to the Governor Ginson Saonu and the five MPs from the shareholder districts to please come forward and address the issue.

Miss Omole,
Tewai-Siassi District