Sacking of PNGPCL’s Riches unjustified

Letters, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 15th Febuary 2012

I REFER to the sacking of the chief executive officer of PNG Ports Corporation Ltd Brian Riches by Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah.
The sacking was not justified as under Riches’ leadership, PNG­PCL has grown tremendously.
It was prudently managed and, as a result, business grew so much that huge cranes and mobile cranes had to be bought for the ports in Port Moresby and Lae.
PNGPCL is a growing business arm of the government that is making a substantial amount of money.
Namah was wrong to terminate the CEO as he was a hands-on person and had a wealth of experience.
The allegations of misconduct in the office of the CEO should have been addressed first.
Sir Mekere Morauta should not be hiding as he should be consulted before the sacking of Riches.
We all know that he was the person who provided the policies and guidelines to prevent political interference of the running of all statutory organisations.
Look at other statutory organisations.
Many of them are in the red.
As a result, the government had to pour in huge amount of resources to keep them going.
As PNGPCL is growing from strength to strength, the government should be backing it all the way instead of throwing a spanner in the cog.
I believe the government should reinstate Riches as the CEO.
He has the capability to make PNG ports the best in the South Pacific.

Kak Passad
Port Moresby