Walking into the Transport office at Ramu NiCo Headquarter, one can’t help but notice the ever energetic and the constant chatter in both English and the local PNG Tok Pisin.
Among the stream of workers and vehicles coming and going, one man stood out the most is Mr Xiao Jian Xiong.
To all Ramu NiCo staff who knew him, he is known as Mr Xiao.
Tall and well-built, dark short hair in a neat haircut, Mr Xiao is an imposing figure that commanded respect with his presence. He maybe one of the tallest Chinese in Ramu NiCo’s Madang head office.
Whenever you see the drivers, Loui Kig, Lloyd Manui, Iginas Alakau and Basi Sawo raced here and there as if chasing time, it was because urgent transportation task.
He was the man in charge of managing all the vehicles for the giant Ramu NiCo Mine in Madang, as well as the fleets at Basamuk Refinery and Kurumbukari Mine sites.
With such an important responsibility at hand, it was no wonder that Mr Xiao was always surrounded by a sense of urgency and purpose.
Despite his seriousness in work and the language difference, Mr Xiao was known for his friendly and approachable nature.
He was not so fluent in English and Tok pisin but when he mixes the two languages together, it goes down well with the PNG nationals and massage is delivered loud and clear, though interesting how the two languages blended in their own ways.
Sometimes when Mr Xiao’s English and Tok Pisin did not blend well for his “clients” to understand, Transport administration officer Francis Kari intercepts to clarify and massage is delivered.
Kari has been sitting next to Xiao for many years and knew Xiao better than other PNG nationals.
One of Mr Xiao ‘s frequent visitors was Samson Tom, the driver from the Community Affairs department. Whenever Tom walked into the office, one could almost sense the tension as both men engaged in a heated discussion.
Tom, a confident man from East Sepik’s Wosera area, would use his traditionally inbuilt persuasive skills to convince Mr Xiao on the plans for the CA team’s next move for Mr Xiao to release a vehicle for him and his team to use.
And Mr Xiao, with his vast experience, always had a good response to change Tom’s ideas and Kelvin the mechanic was one the names both men loved to mention in most of their conversations.
It is fun hearing them, it sets the day right to begin a fresh day at work with a smile and something to remember and laugh about for the day when you pass by both men.
It is evident that the transport office was one of the important offices. It mobilizes and manages the mobility of workers, and expertise to come together to keep the operations of the country’s only nickel and cobalt mine running smoothly. They are all serious about work and how to make work arrangement better.
And Mr Xiao, with his significant role in managing the mobility of all these elements, was one of the key people who put their time and energy to the success of Ramu NiCo.
As the day came to an end in every working day, and the workers started to leave, Mr Xiao’s office would be still busy with activities. He was already preparing for the next day, making sure that all company vehicles at the Ramu NiCo head quarter are cleaned and refueled to tackle the next day’s chores. If not done at the end of the day, the preparations of the vehicles are done early next day.
The transport office at Ramu NiCo may seem like any other office, but in reality, it was home to an extraordinary man like Mr Xiao.
A man who not only managed vehicles but also built relationships and bridged cultural differences and contributes in one way or the other to the success of the Ramu NiCo Mine in Madang, Papua New Guinea.
