- This topic has 855 voices and 1 reply.
- Posts
A meeting is scheduled to be held in Kokoda today 5th August, 2004 for anyone interested in the Kokoda Trail to discuss various issues.
The agenda includes KTA’s requirement regarding registration of guides and porters and that first preference must always be given to medically fit ‘Koiari men’ to act as porters and guides.
Secondly, Landowners wish to express their disappointment of not being included in any decision making with regards to KTA and the fact that not even one Orokaivan is on the board.
Landowners children of Kokoda have enjoyed earning wages from trekking in 2003/2004, and parents are not happy that this might suddenly come to a close when KTA has its way in hiring mainly Koiari’s and wish to voice their opinion. Invitations have gone out to all people of Kokoda to attend.
MacLaren Hiari (MBE) from Popondetta has been invited to attend who will chair the meeting along with Priscilla Ogomeni.
The Alfred Amuli – Kokoda LLG rep (Chairman) has been invited to attend. Alfred lives in Kokoda when he is not in Port Moresby but is not an Orokaivan but a Koiari.
Minutes of the meeting will be available soon for publication on our website after we receive them from Kokoda.
Update: Have just heard that the landowner of the airstrip at Kokoda is chairing the meeting and that a large gathering are in attendance.
Two way radio update:
Landowners have asked that three Koiari people on the KTA step aside and allow three Kokoda landowers to take their place to keep it fair
They also requested that Orokaivan's be allowed to work and to abolish the Porter/Guide registration as suggested by the KTA.
Failure to do so will leave them with no other means but to start charging all trekking companies for walking over their land and/or close the airstrip at Kokoda.
Minutes in full of the meeting will be available on Sunday once typed out.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.