By Chris Kinn

In a small but significant and moving ceremony, Water PNG’s Board and Executive Management team bid farewell to16 retrenched staff at its Port Moresby Operations office in NCD yesterday.

Among the retrenched staff with combined Water and Waste Water experiences of 365 years, was one staff from WPNG Alotau branch clocking 40 years. Field Customer Services Officer Norman Philip started his employment career as a junior officer in 1982 when the Water and Sanitation services was under the then Department of Works and Supply before being transferred to Water Board in 1987.
Also others with years of experience were former Eda Ranu staff who were transferred from Port Moresby City Council, now known as NCDC, to Eda Ranu then to Water PNG. They will be leaving with mixed emotions as looking after the Capital City’s water and sewerage systems network have been a part of their lives.
In his farewell speech, Board Chairman Amb. Aiwa Olmi said, the level of experience leaving Water PNG is immense creating a big gap to be filled. However, he reminded them that they have served their purpose well and now it was time to move onto the next journey in their lives.
Water PNG’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Parkop Kurua in his closing remarks asked the retirees not to leave with heavy hearts but must be proud of themselves, as the company is of them, for achieving incredible milestones in their lives.
“You have set the building blocks as pioneers in the Water and Sanitation business in Papua New Guinea for the organisations current and future employees to carry on your legacies into the future,’ said Mr Kurua.
Retrenched staff and Union President Mr Kevin Hecko whilst thanking the Board and Management of WPNG in his response on behalf of the retirees said, “I am proud of what the company has given me in return of my 26 years of dedicated service. I have two daughters educated and employed in Australia because of my employer.”
Another retiree who knows Port Moresby’s Sewerage System by heart Roko Volu said, “I am going out as a very happy and relieved man because all of my 10 children are educated and employed as a result of my employment with Water PNG”.
The evening closed with medals and gifts presented to the retrenched staff and now former employees of WPNG followed by light refreshment.
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