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Lae comes to a standstill
By PETER KORUGL
LAE came to a stand still as candidates in
Huon and Lae open electorate took to the road with their supporters
yesterday.
Candidates arrived with many of their supporters in the city centre by
9am and made their way to the Huon and Lae district offices to nominate.
Among them were former premier Utula Samana, Dr Andrew Lakau and
businessman Fred Wak.
They were among several candidates who nominated, bringing the total
number of confirmed candidates by 2.30pm yesterday to 21 for the Lae
open seat, held by Bart Philemon. For the Huon open seat, former
managing director for the National Forest Services, Thomas Nen and
former MP, Tukape Masani were among the many who closed the nominations
yesterday.
Flanked by fellow People’s National Congress candidate Mr Samana, Mr
Masani nominated to contest the seat he was dethroned from in 2002 by
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Sasa Zibe.
Truckloads of supporters, many standing or virtually hanging to the
trucks converged to the city centre or the Huon district office.
“We expect another five candidates to come in. If they do, this should
bring the number up. We have 21 confirmed for the Lae open,” returning
officer Roy Kamen said.
Meanwhile, Mr Wak said he was fed up and was contesting to change Lae.
“Roads, health and education services are not affordable to the public
in Lae and Morobe, these services are deteriorating,” the owner of the
Highway Inn said.
Mt Hagen’s Jiga tribe leader Michael Pundia said Lae deserved a leader
who needed to address all social and economical issues in the
electorate.
 
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