Operators refuse to ferry officials over non-payment

PUBLIC motor vehicle owners in Western Highlands refused to transport polling officials and security personnel last Friday because they had not been paid for trips made.
The vehicles are used by the electoral commission and security forces to transport polling officials and security forces in the highlands.
Last Friday, they were supposed to take members of the joint task force from Mt Hagen to Chimbu for the weekend polling.
The forces had to wait until the afternoon to start moving after election officials and police chiefs managed to convince the frustrated PMV owners that they would be paid.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Highlands) Chief Supt Teddy Tei assured them that outstanding payments would be made.
He said those who withdrew their services on Friday would only be paid for the number of days their vehicles had been used.
The 25-seater buses and trucks were parked outside the Kimininga police barracks.
At least 70 vehicles are used for polling in Hela, Southern Highlands, Enga, Western Highlands and Jiwaka.
The PMV owners said they had not been paid for the various trips they had made since polling began two weeks ago.
Spokesmen and PMV owners James Alphonse, Peter Namba and David Tasman said contractors had been employed by the commission and police department to engage buses and trucks for 28 days at a fee of K900 per day.
Some had received payment for 14 days, others were yet to be paid. Some complained that their vehicles had not been used and had been kept at the barracks, which meant a loss of business for them.
Some said they had received K12,500, others K6,000 and the rest nothing at all.
They said they had financial commitments to the banks where they borrowed money from.