Govt promises more for Lae

Lae News, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday 30th January 2012

THE government has promised more benefits for Lae and Morobe province.
Speaking at his party’s fundraising dinner at the Lae International Hotel on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah said although Lae had contributed so much to the country, successive governments had failed to recognise and support the city’s advancement.
Namah said city roads had been a major problem and his party would fight to build quality roads so the city continues to build and support the country economically.
PNG Power will this week be directed to erect street lights from the Bugandi roundabout to 10-Mile following complaints from business houses and residents of criminals taking advantage of the cover of darkness to harass people.
Namah, who met with representatives of the Lae Chamber of Commerce yesterday, said the government had its door opened to receive business concerns as businesses were pivotal in the city’s development.
“Lae contributes too much to the internal revenue of the country and we must give something back,” he said.
Namah said the Angau Memorial Hospital would receive K25 million on Wednesday as part of the government’s free health policy.
 The Lae Port contract is expected to be awarded in two weeks to allow work to begin.
Namah said the government had asked the Police Minister to look into doubling the size of the force in the province, because of its access to and from the Highlands, Islands and other areas.
Morobe Province will receive K130m in its development budget and K80m in development funds.
Irritated by the delay of their flight into Lae on Saturday evening because the Nadzab airport lights had not been not turned on, Namah reiterated the government’s determination to upgrade the airport to international status. 
This is the second visit to Lae by Namah in a week. The first was last Sunday when he officially launched the party’s provincial electoral office at 14-Mile.