An increase in drowning deaths at sea, sea piracy and illegal entry into our waters has seen the Public Accounts Committee conduct an inquiry into the Small Craft Act. During the inquiry it was found and recommended that the 23 foot dinghies manufactured out of Alotau are not up to industry standard, as they don’t float and they do not have free board and should be licensed to carry out passengers. It was also revealed that the act took five years since June 2011 for the Small Craft Act bill to be gazetted after it was unanimously passed on the floor of parliament “These 23 foot sea vessels are death bucket, our children have been lost, parents and mothers have been lost it is a terrible loss of life and my heart goes out to people who lose loved ones because of drowning or sea piracy,” said Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee & Member for Bogia John Hickey. Present to give evidence was CEO of National Maritime Safety Association (NMSA) Paul Unas, Acting secretary for Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Dickson Ginua, Secretary of Transport Roy Mumu and a representative from the Legislative Council Department of Prime Minister and ACP Crimes Victor Isouve who turned up on behalf of Police Commissioner Gari Baki with the A/Auditor General LAMEKI ILLA. A notable absentee was Foreign Affairs Secretary William Dihm. The purpose of the inquiry and the act is to provide safety operation of small crafts throughout the country. PNGFM/PNGToday
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