Samb praises MP for pushing govt to recognise passage

National

TRANSPORT Minister William Samb has praised Samarai-Murua MP Isi Henry Leonard for pushing the Government to recognise the Jomard Passage in Milne Bay as an economic zone.
Samb said the passage that ran through the maritime districts of Kiriwina-Goodenough, Esa’ala and Samarai-Murua could generate over K1 billion annually from pilotage fees alone from international ships passing through.
“Our Government has already endorsed and seeks approval to declare Jomard Passage a compulsory pilotage area (CPA),” he said.
“And I did attempt to visit the site with the MP on June 28.
“I want all the Milne Bay MPs and governor to assist in getting the CPA off the ground.
“I, too, acknowledge the work of Samarai-Murua MP Isi Henry Leonard through his district development authority, in trying to mobilise our people in the vicinity of the passage.
“I also acknowledge past Milne Bay MPs who had taken these issues regarding the Jomard Passage.
“Since becoming the minister, Jomard Passage was one of my key points that I wanted to address in my term and I have asked the National Maritime Safety Authority to put out the actual entry/exit points of the passage so that we can deal with the stake holders in that vicinity accordingly.”
Samb also expressed concern that maritime provinces were receiving unfair distribution of funds to build infrastructures such as wharves, jetties, navigational aids, search and rescue operations.
“We need fair distribution of resources and budget for the maritime provinces,” he said.
“After all, the economy of this country relies heavily on ships that transport our cargo.”