It was with nostalgia that on the 8th of December, Henri WABETE, Technical Renovation Advisor at Cotransmine, took his well-deserved retirement after 35 years of dedicated service.
Originally from Tiga, Henri has mechanics in his DNA. He started out as a mechanic in the army, then at Sotramine in Kouaoua, before joining the NMC as an assistant mechanic in Nouméa. His eagerness to learn and discover new skills later led him to train as a crane operator at the NMC.
Henri joined Cotransmine in 1990 as a maintenance agent for the renovation of barges and tugs. His responsibilities include cleaning, rustproofing and painting to prevent wear and tear and ensure the longevity of the fleet. Over the years, he improved his skills and became a technical renovation advisor in 2019. His presence at Cotransmine is living proof that a successful career is built on passion, patience and sharing.
Henri humbly acknowledges that he is part of the Group’s history, having witnessed ‘every event since Boakaine closed until now’. He hopes for only one thing: that the younger generation will continue the work with perseverance and thus uphold the company for even longer. For Henri, ‘Cotransmine is like a family with brothers and sisters’. Bonds have been forged and will never cease to exist, as demonstrated by the commemoration on the 28th of November, and which he will continue to attend every year.
In the meantime, it is a return to his roots for Henri, who will settle in Tiga for the next chapter of his life.