The New Britain Palm Oil has distanced itself from reports of an incident involving two doctors at the company’s Kumbango Plantation on July 24.
According to media reports last month, two doctors in Kimbe were attacked by the NBPOL Kumbango Division 3 community.
Statements from the doctors submitted to NBPOL also reported theft of personal items. They reported very dramatic and horrific experiences of the incident against NBPOL and its Kumbango Division 3 community of workers and their families.
However, during the NBPOL management’s roundtable discussion with the WNB Provincial Health Authority and the Kimbe Chapter of the National Doctors Association on August 13, reconciliation took place.
The NBPOL management asked the doctors to apologise and retract their comments, which had resulted in inaccurate media publicity as well as tarnished their reputation.
The president of the WNB National Doctors Association, Dr George Pariwa, apologised on behalf of the doctors.
In a statement, the firm said: “NBPOL conducted internal investigations into the incident at Kumbango Division 3 after the media reports and their investigations concluded that; there were two vehicles involved in this incident”.
“The first vehicle and occupants were drunk and drove into the compound during a soccer match. As the players were on the field, one of the players kicked the soccer ball, which passed over the bonnet of the first Land Cruiser.
“This prompted the already drunk occupant in the back daring the driver to step on the ball. The driver deliberately ran over the ball and damaged it.
“This incident impelled the spectators and teams to react and they chased the vehicle out of the compound. After some minutes the doctors’ vehicle drove in.”
According to the statement, the doctors were unaware of the incident. Upon seeing the crowd, they assumed that they were trying to attack them.
“This was clearly not the case as one of the community leaders jumped on the vehicle and called out to the people to give way so that the doctors’ vehicle could be driven out in safety. There was no harm done to the doctors as was detailed in the news report.
“All the statements and witnesses will be taken to Kimbe Police Station this week for Police interviews as per the outcome of the roundtable meeting on Saturday.”
Kimbe Police Station Commander, Inspector Steven Bunga, who was present at Saturday’s meeting, informed everyone that the case had been recorded and his officers have already conducted investigations into it.
PSC Bunga maintained that WNB Police will do its utmost best in getting to the bottom of this issue and ensure justice is served.
(Picture: Resource in focus)