By Sylvester Gawi – EM TV, Lae
In a short media briefing this afternoon, the members of the Morobe Tutumang announced that the issue of the Lae City Commission, is far from over. They still maintain that there were no consultations done between Morobe leaders and the National Government.
They said that they will be meeting with Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, this Thursday to sort out the many questions surrounding the establishment of the Commission.
The Morobe leaders have put together three key demands, which they will put forward, to the prime minister and Chief Secretary, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, to seek clarification from.
The decentralisation of financial powers, over Lae city, has been the centre of debate, over the last 12 months. The Tutumang members say that the Lae City Commission, when established, will take over Lae’s internal revenue from the provincial government.
This, they say, will affect the eight districts of the Morobe Province.
Morobe’s Deputy Governor, Judas Nalau, says the consultation process has not been fully exhausted, and that is what the Morobe Provincial Government wants to see.
Other leaders of the province has also queried the jurisdiction of the Commission, and the areas of Lae, and surrounding LLGs, that the Commission will cover.
They are also concerned of how the eight districts will benefit, from the Commission. Such areas like Wampar in Huon Gulf, which covers the Lae Port tidal basin, the Lae Nadzab four lane highway and the Nadzab airport.
They are also demanding for consultation, on how they will be benefiting from the commission’s municipal services.
The PEC Members and local landowners will travel to Port Moresby this Thursday to meet with the prime minister and discuss their demands.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=cavkDDihWoA%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
