PMV system to undergo major changes

Caption: Transport Secretary Roy Mumu

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, February 23, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THAT was the message from the Secretary for Transport and Superintendent of Motor Traffic, Roy Mumu to address the abuse of road traffic rules, especially by Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) service providers, taxis and PMV buses.

The secretary revealed that he had given directives to the Land Transport Board and division, which he said was the the only way to control them.

“The fact of the matter is some taxi drivers and PMV drivers do not care about us- we have been taken to court because they apply as and when they request for operating licenses and we are expected to facilitate them,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned why should they apply- we decide how many taxis need to come on the road, how many buses should come on the road.”

“We advertise that these are the amount of vehicles we need, andwe know we have ceilings of 1000 for Taxis and 1500 for PMV buses.”

“We decide how many we need, why should we wait for every Tom Dick and Harry who do not have a mobile number and a post office address.”

He said that whoever wanted to do business, like every other businessman in Papua New Guinea, must have a permanent address and a permanent landline number and mobile number that we can contact.

“When people come off the planes either from PNG or overseas, they are going to go to their place of residences, either on a PMV bus, a taxi or a private vehicle.”

“If they have a choice to go on a taxi, that taxi must be presentable.

“I have directed the land transport division that from now onwards every new license, whether it is for a new bus or taxi, must be for a brand new vehicle-enough of the second-hands that someone wanted to dispose of in Papua New Guinea.”

“I will only approve the extension or renewal of the existing license holders.”

All existing taxi operators with expired licenses are being given a three week deadline to either renew or will have their licences forfeited.

“One your license if forfeited and you want to apply for a new one, you must buy a new vehicle to run under that license,” Mumu said.

“We must set a standard, because after all that is the motor traffic act that we manage, if we do not do that, the taxi operators will take us for granted.”

“When the participants of the South Pacific Games arrive in Port Moresby next year, I expect the buses and taxies must be in good condition, the drivers must be well behaved to transport them around, that is the best the sector can provide to them as our Papua New Guinea hospitality.”

“Why should a driver pick them up without a button on his shirt, or a cap on, or spitting betelnut- out that is a very bad image for the country.”