by Bethanie Harriman – EM TV News, Lae
Traditional Landowners of Lae City have said no to the Lae City Authority bill passed by parliament.
The Ahi people said they do not support the idea until their demands for land usage compensations are met.
Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru accompanied by PEC members and the City Lord Mayor, Koim Trulli Leahy, met with Ahi Leaders to explain the Provincial Governments decision to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
The Morobe Provincial Government received overwhelming support at Butibum village today.
Lae’s traditional landowners the Ahi, have rejected the Lae City Authority bill passed by parliament.
They have given their own petition to the government to meet their own demands before the bill can be established and they support the Morobe Provincial Governments stance to take the bill to the Supreme Court.
This morning Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru, PEC Members and the City Lord Mayor, Koim Trillu Leahy, explained why the matter is going to the Supreme Court.
The Ahi people have been told by the Lae MP and Interim Chairperson, Loujaya Kouza, that the bill will include opportunities for an MOA that translate into a benefit translating package.
The inconsistencies of the bill were spelt out to the Ahi people today.
Their argument is with the bill, believing that the national government takes away the service delivery function of the Lae Urban Local Level Government and leaves it as a policy making arm, rendering it an incomplete government.
Morobe Governor, Kelly Naru, explained that it was unconstitutional to have another authority not mandated by the people to carry out services.
The Provincial Government is taking the matter to the Supreme Court.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_nLNqwiS-98%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
