PNG Ports backs probe

 By MALUM NALU

PNG Ports Corporation chief executive officer Stanley Alphonse has welcomed the investigation ordered by Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC) into allegations raised by landowners over his handling of issues at Lae port.

Ahi and Labu landowners last Wednesday, when reopening the Lae port after closing it a day earlier, warned of continued uneasiness there if new stevedoring companies were allowed to operate 

there.

They also demanded the immediate sacking of PNG Ports chairman Nathaniel Poiye and Alphonse.

The petition demanded: 

•  Withdrawal of expressions of interests for stevedoring and port terminal handling;
•  PNGPCL must not take over any existing stevedoring and handling functions that current companies perform;
• Lae Port Tidal Basin project negotiations for operators are given to existing landowner stevedoring companies under suitable public-private partnership arrangements with IPBC;
• There be no entry and involvement by Patrick’s Stevedores at both the port and the tidal basin project; and
• Immediate sacking of Poiye and Alphonse

Alphonse said he would cooperate with the independent investigation team that was yet to be appointed by the IPBC.