Ex-mayor against eviction

 GOVERNMENT needs to address human issues before delivering basic services, former Lae lord mayor James Khay says.
Kahy was responding to the eviction of settlers at Bumbu Bridge two weeks ago.
“Eviction is not an answer and solution to law and order issues in urban cities, including Lae, and elsewhere,” Khay said.
He said people gave leaders the mandate to address these issues for their benefit.
“However, instead of serving people, leaders turn onto humans by evicting them without providing appropriate mechanisms for resettlement,” Khay said.
He said before evicting settlers, it was proper for the government to identify a land portion, subdivide it, set in required essentials such as roads, water, electricity and sanitation then resettle them.
He urged Morobe Governor Kelly Naru to ensure planners from the provincial government and Lae city council identified these issues.
“City planners lack wisdom and understanding to anticipate how the city is expanding and provide appropriate mechanisms on where to build factories and manufacturing companies, administration offices, shopping and business centres, government agencies and residential areas,” he said.