Road Traffic Authority board appointed

Caption:  RTA board sworn in last week.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, February 7, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

SINCE its passage in 2014, the new Road Traffic Authority (RTA) finally had its inaugural board sworn in last week Friday.

The authority will see the amalgamation of current regulatory bodies such as the Land Transport Division (LTD) and the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) - a welcome relief for motorists as all functions under the new Road Traffic Act 2014 will come a single authority to administer.

Members of the new board are: Melvin Yalapan representing PNG Law Society; Jacob Luke Director of Mapai Transport representing Road Transport Association; Nixon Duban, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure;  Lilly Tua-Secretary for National Council of Women representing Women; John Rex Makao from the NCD PMV Association representing PMV Owners and Operators Association and Douveri Henao- Executive Director PNG Council of Business representing Business Council.

The ex officio board members comprises of Margaret Tenakani - FAS Department of Finance, Dickson Guina A/Secretary Provincial and LLG Affairs, Transport Secretary Roy Mumu, Works Secretary David Wereh, and Acting CEO of RTA Nelson Terema.

Straight after the swearing in last week, nominated board members went into election and nominated their board chairman Melvin Yalapan and his deputy chair John Rex Makao.

Acting CEO of RTA Nelson Terema told the Sunday Chronicle that the immediate aims for the authority was to modernize the public transport system- something that has been tossed about in the past, but is seriously aimed for by the new authority. 

“We have got major events coming up like FIFA and APEC that we will prepare for.” 

“In the past those functions were all over the place like some were with the National Road Safety Authority, some with the Land Transport Division, Traffic Registry, and some with the provincial governments.”

“They have created a lot of confusion for motorists.”

“Now all of that has been amalgamated together under one authority so it functions as a one stop shop.”

In reference to all the positions that are available in the new authority- Mr Terema indicated that all positions will be advertised fairly to the public and also to those from both organisation of the NRSC and LTD."

“The positions will be advertised and we will be fair to everybody and at the moment we will be operating out of MVIL (Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited) until such a time allows us to move out.”

“We will operate with them at the moment to be convenient- and MVIL will operate as normal and we will be working in partnership and some of the functions will be outsourced to MVIL and other agencies.”