by Sylvester Gawi – EM TV, Lae
Clan leaders of the Butibam and Kamkumung villages in Lae city have clarified their stand to support the establishment of the proposed Lae City Authority.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has agreed to give them their Ahi Assembly once the Lae City Authority is established.
In a small media briefing yesterday morning, clan leaders from Butibam and Kamkumung said the Lae City Authority is a step forward for the future developments in Lae city. The leaders say the city authority will give an opportunity for them to be part of the decision making on services beneficial to the people of Lae.
The leaders met with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and discussed the benefits of the city authority and how the government will assist them in setting up their Ahi Assembly for their children.
For the last 50 years, the city’s traditional landowners claimed they were left out of consultations and discussions on developments taking place in Lae. Much of Lae’s law and order problems were blamed on the landowners for selling their land to outsiders.
But what successive governments have failed to see is the engagement of local leaders in various provincial boards.
Bukam clan leaders say they stand in solidarity with the Morobe provincial government, Lae MP and to-be chairperson of the Lae city authority, Loujaya Kouza, as well as the national government, to see the establishment of the authority.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-lV4_croAsI%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
