New PMV group eyeing better deal for Lae

ALL PMV bus owners are urged to affiliate under the Lae City PMV Association to assess and qualify their vehicles for PMV plates and insure with the Motor Vehicle Insurance Ltd (MVIL) to operate.
The new approach focuses on road worthiness, driver and crew responsibilities, public conduct, bus routes, fares and public road transport and police traffic rules.
LCPMVA chairman Sammie Temiel said the ultimate aim was to ensure public safety and protect vehicles, owners, drivers and crews.
“It is for us PMV owners to take ownership in ensuring convenient and affordable bus services to our users while ensure K0.80 fare across the board for all routes by re-setting PMV routes,” Temiel said.
Association secretary James Kinjin and Temiel met with 30 PMV owners at Niall Reserve, Eriku on Friday.
Some notable concerns were mothers owning black markets occupying seats with cargo, highway buses using city route bus stops, old highway buses dumped to operate in the city while owners reside elsewhere, limited bus stops to cater for new settlements, drivers and crew inductions on how to approach passengers and routine stickers.
The LCPMVA will operate in partnership with the Lae City Council using a workshop yard at Baling Street along Butibam Road at Kamkumung to assess and test buses, and conduct driver and crew inductions.
Kinjin said drivers and crews would undergo training to determine whether buses are good enough to acquire LCPMVA stickers to qualify for PMV blue plates and MVIL for insurance.