Authority: Over 390 yet to apply for license

By DALE LUMA
AROUND 390 business houses in Lae have not submitted their applications for trading licenses to the Lae City Authority (LCA), according to chief executive officer Neil Ellery.
The deadline for the submission was June 30, as per a newspaper public notice by the city authority on May 20.
According to the city authority, failure to submit the applications would result in fines or closure of business.
Ellery told The National that the authority had received 210 applications as per the deadline.
He said about 390 have not submitted their applications.
“However we expect this to rapidly change as more business get familiar with going online to apply,” Ellery said.
“It speeds up application as clients don’t need to visit our office to apply, no queuing, no frustration.
“Quicker processing times, more transparency and lessens the potential of corrupt practices.”
Ellery said for those that applied, as long as their documentation were correct, it would take no more than 21 days for approval.
When asked on the business climate in Lae post Covid-19 state of emergency, Ellery said Lae’s business community and its residents always had the ability to bounce back from adversity.
“We know what needs to be done and do it. We are the clydesdale horse, we keep working.”
“Lae is our second largest city, it’s time we stopped talking about its potential and make it a reality.”