By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
MILNE Bay Governor John Luke Crittin has called for a roundtable discussion regarding the bulldozing of the Jomard Passage compulsory pilotage services (JPCPS).
Mr Crittin said the move was done without consulting the Milne Bay people.
“I am unhappy with the Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil who is also the Transport Minister; he pushed aside the arrangement done by former Transport Minister William Samb and the Milne Bay people,” He said the people would not support Basil’s moves in engaging compulsory pilotage services for the Jomard passage.
“The current Expression Of Interest (EOI) to invite Pilotage Services providers for Jomard Passage issued by National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) and following the Ministerial Statement on the Post Courier on Friday, January 28, directed by Basil, comes as a sudden surprise and contrary to the spirit of Inter-Government engagement as well as Inter-Agency consultation and the NEC Decision No 210/2020,” Mr Crittin said.
“Milne Bay Provincial Government was supposed to have been consulted and involved in the development of the TOR for its input and to further understand the status of the International Maritime Organization requirements for the Establishment of the Compulsory Pilotage, before the directive was issued by Basil and NMSA.
“The provincial government has been proactively and constantly reaching out and engaging with the Government, the former Transport Minister William Samb, and the agencies concerned towards first with the establishment of the Jomard Passage Particularly Sensitive Sea Area and have been cooperating with the National Agencies in respect of the NEC Decision to progress the Jomard Compulsory Pilotage project.
“It is somewhat a slap in the face and disappointing for all the hard work and proactive engagement by the MBPG and Administration to be bypassed in this manner and not be given the opportunity to be engaged in this process.
“The MBPG has been and continue to be keenly interested in progressing Jomard as a major maritime conservation area in our province as well as a potential source of shared revenue for the Provincial Government, Resource Owners and all stakeholders and of course the National Government.”
Crittin called on the Prime Minister James Marape, Basil and NMSA to put a hold to progressing the Invitation for EOI, and seek a roundtable discussion with relevant agencies to clarify MBPG and stakeholders involvement in the Jomard Project and clarify the details of the TOR for EOI for Jomard Pilotage Services before we move forward together in the Spirit of Cooperation as per the NEC Decision.