Sturt Island, Western province, assured of jetty upgrade

By MALUM NALU on Sturt Island

People of remote Sturt Island in the South Fly area of Western province have been assured of an upgrade to their recent-completed jetty by Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF).

Chief executive officer of OTDF, Ian Middleton, made the assurance when speaking at the arrival of the K19 million mv Fly Warrior at Sturt Island on Saturday.

Middleton (left) and a local leader on the Sturt Island jetty on Saturday.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

“We’re going to upgrade this jetty, as well as three other jetties in the South Fly area,” he said.

“We’re going to fence this area in front of the jetty and build a shed.”

He appealed to the people to respect the Fly Warrior and its sister ships, Fly Hope and Fly Explorer, as they moved up and down the Fly River.

Signboard for the recently-completed jetty on Sturt Island.

“They (ships) will bring you income, bring you containers of materials, and you will see them going up and down river,” Middleton said.

“Respect these ships, they’re yours.

“You and people in the middle of nowhere own these vessels.”