Image: Pious Pim, Mt. Hagen City Manager
Mt. Hagen City Manager, Pious Pim, told EMTV News today that the City Authority Act is creating confusion in their service delivery functions.
Pim said the City Authority is going beyond its boundaries in terms of municipal duties, which have caused problems with the City Council.
He made this remark after the CEO of the Mt. Hagen City Authority blamed Pim for the City’s untidiness, and increase of petty crimes.
Pim said Hagen rural area should be kept segregated from urban areas.
He explained to City residents and business houses that there shouldn’t be a court order, in the first instance if the City Authority had worked within its boundaries, and alongside the City Council.
Pim said the City Authority is also infringing on the boundaries of the Local Level Government which has caused confusion and anger.
The Mt. Hagen City Authority Act of 2015 states clearly that the Authority is primarily responsible for providing municipal services in Mt. Hagen area.
Such include collection of rubbish; managing of municipal dump, cleaning and lighting of roads, streets and pathways; maintenance of public parks and recreation areas, and controlling of domestic animals in urban areas.
They can also determine, and control the budget allocation priorities for Hagen LLG.
CEO of Mt Hagen City Authority, Leo Noki claimed that the Authority was unable to function because of a Court order in place.
Meanwhile, Pim said the City Authority Act should be returned to Parliament for debate.
Pim said he has been working for over 10 years with the Provincial Government and he has never come across such trying situations until the Act was introduced.
He said this has crippled him from doing his job.
