Caption: PMV operators meet in discussions with the Land Transport Board.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, May 8, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG) 

THE Department of Transport through the Land Transport Division’s Board, met with Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) operators of buses and taxis on Monday to address concerns faced by the industry in light of recent occurrences in PMV stop work strike in April and other issues.

Chaired by the Secretary for Transport Roy Mumu, the meet with PMV operators under the Land Transport Board (LTB) took place as the new Road Traffic Authority is still in its formulation stages awaiting cabinet approval of new rules and regulations that will see the repealing of various motor traffics acts governing the land transport sector.

“The understanding on our part as the governing body is that we are still in a transition phase from the former Land Transport Board, and regulatory oversight under the Motor Traffic Act is with a new law now which is the Road Traffic Act,” Secretary Mumu said.

“We have gone through a transition period of new rules and regulation that will govern the public transport system will be regulated and managed.”

“As soon as cabinet approves the new regulations, which I understand our minister signed last week, the motor traffic acts, and regulations, and the land transport board act will be repealed and everything will be under the new Road Traffic Authority.”

He said that meet followed resolutions from ex-officio members of the LTB, at a meeting conducted two weeks ago- following the big concern where bus operators went on strike regarding the incident at Gordons.

Chairman Mumu, said given the concerns from NCD and other representatives of government expressing concern on how to improve on the inconveniences that were placed on the travelling public the board decided on the meet.

“I decided through a board resolution of the LTB, that we must meet and talk before the RTA comes up with new regulations and new arrangements how it is going to be operated,” Mumu said.

“Today’s discussions I want us to reach some understandings before the new arrangement is done on how the public transport is going to be managed in the city and the current arrangement.”

“You need to assure me and the government that if a similar incident happens again, although it is on another route. Why should the route going down 2 Mile Hill be arrested?”

“They must continue to provide that service as the incident has occurred at a completely different route. Why should it affect all the other routes in the city and for two days? That must cease as we have given you licenses to provide a dedicated service.”

He told them if the situation is a law and order issue the police should be allowed to handle it.

“The public message must continue, that you must assure me that in future if such incidents happen don’t band together and close everything,” Mumu told the operators.

“This is Papua New Guinea’s city and we must operate as Papua New Guineans to continue that service to our people.”

All PMV operators in the meeting assured the Chairman that it was not in their interest to shut down services, but rather that of the driver and crews.

“Thank you for giving me that assurance that unilateral or unforeseen stop works will not occur. If operators experience we will address with police,” the Secretary told them.