Compensation at all costs - the new highwaymen
09 January 2013
KELA KAPKORA SIL BOLKIN
THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS WRITTEN by Jeffery Kopeap of Pulim Village near Mendi in the Southern Highlands Province.
His pet cat had been run over and killed by a truck belonging to Traisa Transport Limited, which has transported cargo to the highlands provinces for many years now.
Pulim Village
P.O. Box 749
Mendi SHP30 December 2011
Subject: COMPLAINING OF KILLING PUSI CAT BY TRAISA COMPANY
I, Jeffery Kopeap, owner of the Pusi Cat strongly disagree that my Pusi cat was obviously killed in the eyes of people early in the morning, 7:42 am 30th December 2011.
The cat was killed by long truck which is Trasia. The cat is male and it is too young, the life for human being and animals is not are different, that’s my property and it looked after my garden and house from protecting rat.
I carry out this matter across to the manager to compensate my Pusi cat, I am demanded this Pusi cat for K1200 because my Pusi cat should live about 15 years.
I want the action immediately within 3-4 days later.
I am waiting for your result as soon as possible. If nothing is done, there will be another story. The driver should minimize his speed and at the same time he see Pusi cat with his eyes and killed the cat.
Thanks for your understanding and consideration.
Signed
Jeffery Kopeap
Such demands and threats are a frequently received by trucking companies doing business between Lae and the highlands provinces.
The cutting open of containers and looting along the Okuk Highway is also a regular experience for trucking companies operating in this part of the country.
Will people up there begin demanding compensation from trucks running over rats, grasshoppers and even fire flies in a few months’ time?
There are also stories of mentally disabled people and drug addicts being lured onto the road at the sight of these big trucks so they are killed and the relatives or clans can make a fortune from compensation.
Men with small run-down vehicles will sometimes dice with death and deliberately drive close to these big trucks so that they dent or scratch parts of their vehicle and then demand compensation from the company.
Sections of the Okuk Highway are covered with craters, potholes and even landslides, which cause damage to the trucks and increases wears and tear on body and engine parts and inflates the cost of running the trucking businesses.
Landowners along the highway deliberately stop the maintenance of these deteriorating road conditions until they get paid compensation.
The Mindima–Wandi section of the Okuk Highway is a typical example of this cycle of neglect and demand.
Despite these problems, the major trucking companies consistently supply machinery, equipment parts, food and clothing to the mines and super markets up in the interior of the highlands provinces.
We salute them for the services rendered in these appalling conditions.
We hope there will not be any more letters like the one above demanding compensation for pussycats, grasshoppers or fireflies run over by trucks this year.
The Okuk Highlands Highway is a disaster. Horrific road conditions and very unfriendly bystanders.
There has been a population explosion over the past 2-3 decades and, to many rural youths (and seniors), the highway is the only "chance" of any income, i.e., looting vehicles, pot-hole gangs and deliberate sabotage by re-directing streams to cause landslides and blockages.
Since the announcement by the national government of its intention to have Chinese to finance a 6 billion re-make, there has been a mad rush to erect stalls, trade stores, fences, gardens etc in an effort to get paid compensation.
And, if it is anything like the Simbu buy-back, they will get paid if they share with the government officers making the pay-out.
It is time the PNG government showed some backbone and regained ownership of the Okuk Highway.The entire highway from Lae wharf to the LNG project area should be declared a disaster zone with special police powers given to Mobile Squads to bring it back under control.
A national advertising campaign should be launched to inform anyone who builds within the 40 metre corridor( i.e., 20 metres either side of the centre line) is trepassing on government property and will be charged.
Illegal gardens and buildings should be given 30 days notice to be removed or they will be destroyed without compensation.
It is rather ironic the national government can boast about its intention to "vaporise" K1 billion in Moresby for the 2015 South Pacific Games where the only real winners from this will be the usual clique of Moresby insiders.
The sad state of the Okuk Highway and the added costs of looting etc is being paid for daily by the millions of highlanders who depend on it as their only source of goods and access to market for their produce.
Yes the highway needs an urgent makeover, however some thought should be given to the locals along its length to be included in the spin-offs.
This could be done by giving them minor maintenance contracts (wok-mak) and also security contracts.
The volume of traffic along the highway has probably gone in excess of 100 percent, however the highlands mummas are still washing their kaukau, pikininis and secondhand clothes in the gutters as the million kina rigs roar past.
With respect, Phil, the highway is a problem far too great for the RSPCA or any other "do good" organisation. We need a "SWAT" Squad.
Posted by: T J Shelley | 10 January 2013 at 01:08 PM
A budding politician in his formatitive years perhaps.
Posted by: William Dunlop | 09 January 2013 at 02:49 PM
The essence of this imbroglio is one of responsibility. That every action has a reaction is a law of physics, however in these cases, what might happen if the warped use of traditional values backfires?
Mind you, this type of thing is nothing new. Look at those who try to rort the Workers Compensation in Oz with cons over claims of bad backs etc. and then get filmed doing manual work elsewhere?
However, let's look at the other side of the coin, sorry, Kina. The owner of the claimed pusi could well be liable for animal cruelty in that he didn't look after his pet in a satisfactory manner, allowing it to stray onto the road.
Also, perhaps the RSPCA may wish to consider charges over the obvious potential destruction of PNG wildlife but the said pusi being allowed to roam and potentially cause the deaths of native fauna, etc.
Spurious legal claims could might also result in false accusations since I notice the corpus delecti hasn't yet been produced or its subsequently proven demise linked in any way with the said vehicle.
What might happen if the case went to court and costs were awarded against the litigant?
The problem here is that this situation has been allowed to develop due to a lack of debate and logical discussion.
Perhaps the basis of government compensation has been such a good cash cow in the past that the expectations of the many have been appreciably been raised in a disproportionate way?
The journey starts with the first step.
Posted by: Paul Oates | 09 January 2013 at 08:59 AM