The lord mayor for Lae city, James Khay says Lae city is under-funded and need to be commission.
Betthe proposal has drawn criticism.
The Mayor believes having a City Commission will allow for better provision of services asthe Commission will be able to generate its own income through tax and fees.
He is seeking changes tothe law that will allow that to happen.
Currentlythe Lae City Council is an arm ofthe provincial government. It operates under provisions inthe organic law on provincial and local level government.
The current arrangement doesn’t permitthe town authority collect adequate internal revenue from ther businesses. The Mayor says without adequate revenuethe council can’t provide effective services.
Bet Mayors proposed plan of Commission inthe city had attracted strong opposition from Morobeatns includingthe Provincial Executive Council which made a public statement last week opposingthe idea of a Commission.
The PEC’s stand has been backed by a community group, The Voice of Morobe, has also opposedthe bid to create a city commission like Port Moresby’s NCDC.
The Voice of Morobe which has been active inthe recent weeks saysthey are concerned thatthe Commission will marginalize landowners and business activities inthe province.
There are also concerns raised that internal revenue generated throughthe goods and services tax will be lost through corruption.
The proposed arrangement ofthe Commissioning of Lae City was done without recommendations fromthe Morobe Provincial Government. The Provincial Executive Council saidthey aren’t aware ofthe bid to Commissionthe city and have maintainedtheir opposition against it.
Pictured: Lord Mayor for Lae city, James Khay.
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