Revamped plan for better benefits

 By GABRIEL LAHOC 

THE Morobe provincial government has realised that the rightful stakeholders have missed out on the best benefits from Lae port and is working on a “blanket plan” that will cover them for maximum returns.

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru announced this to representatives of Riback Stevedores, Lae Port Services, United Stevedores and Papua New Guinea Maritime Workers’ Union who made one group from the local stevedoring industry last Thursday at Huon Gulf Motel in Lae.

The group, citing unfair treatment by the ports authority, is not satisfied by the explanation from PNG Ports Corporation (PNGPC) chief executive Stanley Alphonse. 

Earlier, they presented copies of their petition to opposition leader Belden Namah, his deputy and Bulolo MP Sam Basil and Huon Gulf MP Ross Seymour at the Nadzab airport.

“It is important to note that there are several stakeholders involved which are the national government through PNG Ports Corporation, locally-owned stevedoring companies, unions, landowners of Lae and the port area and the Morobe provincial government,” Naru said.

“I have realised that the people of Morobe has missed out terribly as this is a service-oriented project that goes on for infinity. As a responsible provincial government, I cannot sit back and let this to continue. We have taken proactive alternatives by engaging a consultancy study,” he said.

“All concerns will be packaged and put to the government, that is my task, I want the best possible benefits and participation rate.

“We must stand united, don’t go and fight your own isolated battles out there. We must fight in unity.”

Naru also assured them that the MPG was supporting the local people’s interests and it would make sure “there is no room for selfish, greedy people” or another foreign-owned stevedoring company to be allowed into the industry.

He was responding to claims by the group that PNGPC chairman Nathaniel Poiya was helping Patricks Stevedoring, a foreign company, into Lae port under the guise of the modernisation programme of the corporation.

The group’s spokesman Dominic Mark said this local service driven industry, which had an infinite life-span, unlike the resource-based industries, was never given first-class treatment by the government.

Mark said they would not rest until the government listened to their demands.