Youths make money from fixing roads

By GABRIEL FITO
PUBLIC motor vehicle operators in East Sepik are calling on police and the department of works to intervene in the illegal collection of road tolls.
Youths living along the highway are filling potholes with soil and charging between K5 and K20 to all PMVs, private and some government vehicles for using the road.
The section of the highway between Yangoru and Maprik have developed huge potholes over the years, creating an opportunity for the youths to cash in on it.
“They are not doing it in one location only, there are about two or three stops we make each day along the highway spending between K30 and K60 in total,” PMV operator Donald Spaiye, of Dreikikir, said.
Former provincial police commander, Leo Kabilo, who recently escaped missiles from one group near Maprik while driving to Wewak and stopped to talk to a second group near Warabung, Yangoru, blamed the Department of Works for not maintaining damaged sections of the highway.
“Yes, I do understand that you need to be compensated for filling the potholes but truly you should not be filling these potholes or charging passing vehicles,” he said.
“This road maintenance is a national works function and you can be prosecuted for illegally obtaining money from passing vehicles,” Kabilo told the youths at Warabung.
Provincial works manager Terry Philip could not be reached for comments yesterday as he was out of the province but rural police station commander Insp James Baugen confirmed the activity on the highway.
He said the youths made lots of money each day, adding that they disappeared when police vehicles approach but they could be easily rounded up.