THE Kokopo Vunamami Urban Local Level Government in East New Britain has closed a balsa factory at Giregire residential area outside of Kokopo town following serious breach of laws.
Last week following complaints raised by the public, Environmental and Safety officers from the Kokopo Vunamami Urban Local Level Government (KVULLG) carried out an inspection and discovered that the company was operating without a trading license, operating illegally in a residential area, no waste management plan, no protective gear for workers, unclean working environment and no safety guidelines at the workplace.
Yesterday, KVULLG officers enforced the directive for the factory processing plant to close after the company failed to follow instructions as followed. The company was also buying new balsa wood when it was not supposed to.
KVULLG City Manager, Freddy Lemeki said it was a clear indication that Eternal Timbers Limited was negligent to the health and safety of its workforce and the general public.
The KVULLG is thankful to the Kokopo Police Response Unit in Kokopo headed by senior constable Andrew Nasala and the Transnational Crime Unit in Kokopo for their assistance.
The Asian managers have had their passport confiscated. The company is likely to be charged for serious breach of the country’s laws.
Locals from Bitavavar Ward had raised concerns that waste materials from the processing plant were being offloaded into their water supply.
Eternal Timbers Limited recently established its Balsa processing plant at Giregire residential area.
