A prominent member of the Road Transport Association (RTA), says government agencies responsible for resolving landowner related roadblocks along the Highlands highway need to act swiftly in order to reduce losses to trucking companies.
The Association president and owner of Mapai transport, Jacob Luke, released the statement today after a roadblock at the Kera bridge near the Porgera mine in Enga was cleared by landowners.
The road block was set up two weeks ago following compensation demands.
While the road has been reopened, the collective losses impacted both on trucking companies and the Porgera mine.
“Leaving issues unattended for long periods only makes people angry and resort to violence, intimidation, and road blockages,” Luke said.
“Had the National Government attended to Kera landowners’ demands and claims swiftly and expeditiously, there would not have been any road blockading as has been the case at Kera Bridge area over the past two weeks.”
The bulk of Mapai transport’s operations originate from Lae into the Highlands region. Over the last two weeks, the roadblock by landowners near the Porgera mine caused significant losses to the company.
The company wouldn’t put a figure on how much had been lost but said as an association of truckers, the losses would be difficult to recover.
Trucking in the Highlands is hazardous in many instances. When crime rates increase, profits are affected and delays due to roadblocks are among the biggest risk to companies.
