Motor traffic inspectors graduate

Caption Pic: Secretary Mumu (Left) presenting a certificate to one of the graduates

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, February 26, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

ENFORCEMENT of road safety and traffic management operations took another positive step last week when the land transport division graduated 35 Motor Traffic Inspector after undergoing almost two weeks of in-house training in the Motor Traffic Inspectors Course.

Present to witness the graduation included the Superintendent of Motor Traffic in the country and Secretary for Transport Roy Mumu, the First Assistant Secretary (FAS) for the Land Transport Division Nelson Lari, Executive Director of the Road Safety Council Nelson Tereme, and Deputy Divisional Commander for NCD Central, Chief Superintendent Norman Kambo.

The certification sees the inspectors gazetted, and certified- with powers under law to conduct roadblocks and inspections of vehicles under the Motor Traffic Act.

Speaking to his graduates, FAS for Land Transport Nelson Lari reminded them that 2014 was a year of implementation, and that the training had been tailored to meet that objective.

“You have gone through the training to give you a understanding of four pieces of legislation especially the motor traffic act,” he said.

“The training has been focusing of the four pieces of legislation- and all the provision are to be implemented, mainly infringement notices and accidents.”

“You and I represent the secretary who is the Superintendent of Motor Traffic – once we get off the ground by tomorrow we want to see all of you in action.”

He told them to put into practice what they had learnt when dealing with people from all walks of life in the city.

“The PR (Public Relations) that we want to see from you is about how you approach, how you explain, and how you give policy advice to the travellers on what they will do or not do as in the legislations that cover our role.”

“There are a lot of Papua New Guineans who defy road traffic regulations who do not understand, but it is our duty to make them understand by disseminating the right information,” he added.

Secretary Mumu in congratulating the graduates expressed his liking to the division, saying that it would be the one that would come down hard on the illegal conduct of public motor vehicle service providers, who he termed were the main offenders of road safety regulations.

“This division is my favorite, the reason being that in my phone I have taken many pictures of bus drivers driving and putting their hands out, taxi drivers driving with their hands out,” the Secretary said.

“Taxi drivers stopping the way they want, anyhow, anywhere and I have had enough.”

“I have lost count of the many times I’ve scolded  them, sometimes with number plates on only one side, either in front or at the back, taxis likewise- these have got to stop and you enforcement officers are my eyes, ears, and hands on the road performing my functions.”

“When you do your enforcement, just remember it is not only the registrations and not only safety stickers- the drivers and the taxi drivers, bus drivers, must also behave- there must be some respect when they provide a service to our people.”

He also warned the inspector that the accepting of bribery on their part would not be tolerated.

“When I come across reports that certain bribes have exchanged hands, get it straight from me that you will be terminated,” he warned.

“We have to live by example, your certificates that you have received are very important andthe public will look to us to conduct ourselves accordingly.”

The passing out of the inspectors have boosted the number of inspectors in the country to close a 100- with other provinces like West New Britain, Manus, Central, and East Sepik set to undertake the training also in the next few weeks.