PM apologises following capture of vehicles

The Prime Minister has apologised on behalf of his people after relatives of the student, who was killed in Port Moresby, seized sixteen LNG vehicles.

Tribesmen of the Late David Kendiyo, from Poroma District in Southern Highlands Province, blocked the junction of Hela and Kutubu and captured sixteen LNG light escort vehicles.

Late David Kendiyo was a UPNG graduate who was killed at Eight-Mile in Port Moresby two weeks ago.

In a report it was alleged that the deceased was killed by someone from Hela Province.

On behalf of the people of Hela, Prime Minister James Marape said: “I am ashamed. Some of these are perpetrated by people who also come from my area and I apologise to the country, the people from my electorate of Tari-Pori, greater Hela Province for what my region has caused to Port Moresby and right across the country.”

The relatives and families of Late David Kendiyo have demanded that the provincial governments of Hela and Southern Highlands respond immediately within seven days, and they have demanded for Prime Minister Marape to come and address the issue.

Hela Provincial Police Commander, Teddy Agwi, says police personnel were deployed and the road is being cleared while they and ExxonMobil are negotiating with locals to release the vehicles.

Police in Hela have confirmed that nine vehicles belonging to ExxonMobil are still held at Poroma in Nembi platoon in Southern Highlands Province.

He says the keys of the vehicles are with the locals, who have gone into hiding whilst making theor demands for authorities to address the issue.

Agwi says police are controlling the situation and locals should not take the law into their own hands.

Meantime, Police Minister Bryan Kramer says a suspect involved in the death of the student has been apprehended.

(Article by Albert Moses – third year UPNG Journalism student)

Author: 
Albert Moses