Lae unrest under control

By PISAI GUMAR
LAE Lord Mayor James Khay has applauded the government for settling the unrest in Lae by deploying police personnel from other centres.
Police from Port Moresby and Wabag helped their Lae counterparts by defusing a volatile situation when Morobeans attacked highlanders.
Khay, who is chairman of the provincial commerce committee, was pleased to see the city had returned to normal and businesses were operating.
He said the government’s rapid response needed to have a lasting impact.
“It needs the input of all Morobe national MPs, the provincial leaders, Lae city council, heads of three disciplined forces, the Lae Chamber of Commerce and landowners,” Khay said.
“It shouldn’t be discussed in a regional way and manner. We need to take into consideration the interests of all taxpayers and local Ahi communities before setting the mechanisms.
“We, leaders, failed to address the issue until it erupted.
“It is a challenge for us all Morobe leaders not to point fingers at one another but to get our heads and minds together to solve this issue once and for all.”
He said the failure by the leaders to address street lawlessness had compelled the youths to take law into own hands.