Truckers up in arms

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

OWNERS of trucking companies and members of the PNG Road Transport Association have again called on the Government to clear the roadblock on the Highlands Highway.

The highway was blocked in Jiwaka by the relatives of a man they claimed was killed by police two weeks ago.

“The Government should take ownership of its assets,” association chairman Jacob Luke said. He said those who were blocking the highway should go and sort out the problem with the police.

He said the truck owners and businessmen had nothing to do with the “shootings and killings”.

“That’s not our business. They should leave us alone,” Luke said.

“If they want to, they can burn all the police stations. The fights are between them and the police. It’s got nothing to do with the road users.” 

A member of the association said it was illegal for any person to block the highway.

He said the problems faced by truck drivers daily on the highway were “worse than just roadblocks and demands for compensations.

“The people up there just don’t have respect for their fellow countrymen and it’s disgusting,” he said.“ The road is bad enough and then we have to put up with these.  

“We get threats all the time, our cars are stolen and our drivers get threats to be burnt alive in their trucks.  This is what we have to put up every day. This is a joke because nowhere in the world do truckies operate like this.” 

He said it was costing businesses a lot.