Nombri sacked as Luship CEO

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The National, Monday June 24th, 2013

 By ELLEN TIAMU

CHIEF executive officer of Lutheran Shipping Agua Nombri has been sacked by the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCPNG) council.    

The decision was announced to protesting workers last Friday afternoon at ELCPNG headquarters at Ampo in Lae, Morobe. 

Lutheran Shipping is the church’s major business arm.

Land and sea workers last Tuesday presented a petition to the church council which was meeting in Lae.

The petition called for the suspension of the ELCPNG secretary, removal of nominees, removal of the 2010 constitution and sacking of Nombri as CEO of the shipping business.

The petition also called for the utilisation of the church ombudsman on legal matters and for its investigations to be extended to cover church administration.

Peaceful unrest began last year following concerns by Lutheran Shipping staff at the main ports in Madang and Lae that revenue made by Luship was not benefitting the company with all its nine vessels needing maintenance.

Luship, which operates passenger ships and cargo barges as far as Vanimo, Manus, New Guinea Islands and Milne Bay is the main money-making business arm of the church.

Four vessels in its fleet are currently sitting idle while the five in operation are not travelling the full route as they require constant regulatory repairs and fittings. 

In response to the petition, the church council last Friday afternoon delivered a resolution to oust Nombri with the impetus on the nominees board and Kambang Holdings Ltd to effect the decision immediately. 

“The nominees board is instructed to carry out the decision immediately through the KHL Board without further delays …   This decision be implemented and reported to the special council meeting in July 2013,” the resolution stated. 

The resolution further stated: “All and necessary changes to the church constitution can be raised with the Constitution Review Committee, who will work on these amendments and present to the ELCPNG 29th synod in 2014, Karkar district for endorsements.”