By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A Kokoda Trekking company’ operating license has been cancelled after the Australian owner has been accused of inciting villagers along the track to rebel against Kokoda Track Authority (KTA)
KT Chief Executive Director Officer Julius Wargirai said that Adventure Kokoda Owner Charlie Lyn was accused of manipulating local villagers to set up a company to collect trekking fees. “This is illegal as KTA is the National Government Authority on the ground to collect trekking fees and to manage the historical 966km Second World War track that runs between Owes Corner in Central Province and Kokoda station in Northern Province. However we will revoke the cancellations only if Lyn agrees to pay KTA K100 per trekker, He has to write to the Government that he will obey PNG Laws, and He must not get involved in local politics”.
However Mr Lyn is seeking judicial review at the National Court against KTA for canceling his Trekking operating license. “I believe the decision to revoke our license was motivated by malice from within the KTA due to my criticism of their failure to:
account for the income they receive from trek permits;
provide an assurance that the Trail would be safe for the peak Anzac trekking period;
ensure campsites and toilets would be adequate for trekkers who had paid their fees in good faith;
protect the welfare of their guides and porters; and
Ensure all licensed tour operators have public liability insurance and comply with the PNG Investment Promotion (IPA) Act.
Mr Lyn explained that “On 14 April 2023 I arrived with a group of 35 trekkers at Owers Corner. Our porters’ backpacks were duly weighed by the KTA rangers who then asked for a copy of our trek permit.
I advised them that the Acting CEO had not responded to my requests for information on the safety of the Trail and the adequacy of campsites to meet the needs of our group. I further advised that I was carrying extra cash to pay directly to the campsite owners we planned to use to assist them to carry out the necessary improvements. We then departed on our trek.
The following day Mr. Wargirai finally extracted himself from his swivel chair and drove to Owers Corner with a police contingent to stop any further Adventure Kokoda treks from proceeding.
He met with our Adventure Kokoda manager, Mr. Donald Watson who, after a short discussion agreed to pay the KTA for all trek permit fees owing by Adventure Kokoda for the Anzac trekking period as we had made our point.
Mr. Watson then proceeded to the KTA office on Monday, 17 April and paid K12, 425.00 to the PNG Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) for my group of 36 trekkers (KTA Receipt No 3340 refers).
He also paid a further amount of K28, 700 for the 84 trekkers in our following three groups for the Anzac trekking period (KTA Receipt Nos: 3338, 3339, and 3341 refer).
In addition to paying all trek fees due for the Anzac trekking period, Adventure Kokoda also paid an extra K13,000 directly to campsite owners they use to assist them in developing their sites sufficiently to meet the needs of their following groups. This investment will also benefit groups from other tour companies who use the sites.
