Transport association backs highway initiative

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday October 31st, 2013

 By LARRY ANDREW

PAPUA New Guinea Road Transport Association (PNGRTA) is throwing its support behind the initiatives of the Simbu provincial government to assist police to set up a national highway robbery and looting unit in the province.

It will be launched tomorrow in Kundiawa.

PNGRTA president Jacob Luke and vice-president Ripen Sarepo presented 2,000 T-shirts with the slogan “say no to national highway robbery and looting – 2013 and beyond” to be given to schools and residents at the launching.

The setting up of the unit is the initiative of Chimbu Governor Noah Kool to free the highway of crime.

He donated a vehicle and money to set up the unit to complement the work of Highway Patrol 5 and 6.

The unit will operate from Kundiawa and will cover the highway from Magiro in Chimbu and Eastern Highlands border in the east to Miunde in the west bordering Chimbu and Western Highlands.

Luke said PNGRTA was made up of major trucking companies in Lae and it was in their interest to work together in partnership. 

“Simbu people must take ownership and protect the highway as it has been named after one of their true sons and a great political leader of this nation, the late Sir Iambakey Okuk,” he said.

Many trucking companies operating on the highway have been unfairly held up by thieves and criminals who took advantage of the worsening road conditions to steal fuel, loot cargo, block roads and damage trucks over non-payment of security and other compensation claims.

Luke reiterated the people should see this as development as there had been improvement – not as bad as it used to be.