LLG president: Sir Manasupe invited me not Kouza

 AHI local level government president David Agi says he went to Port Moresby at the invitation of Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc and not Lae MP Loujaya Kouza.

He said that on Saturday to counter accusations from Morobe Deputy Governor Judas Nalau and Lae Lord Mayor Koim Trilu Leahy that he had travelled to Port Moresby at the invitation of Kouza to support the proposed Lae City Commission Bill in Parliament.

Sir Manasupe was in Lae over the weekend to meet with Ahi landowner leaders and other stakeholders on the commission.

“I came to Port Moresby at the invitation of Sir Manasupe,” Agi told The National.

“He invited me, Lord Mayor Koim Trilu Leahy, Governor Kelly Naru and city manager Roy Kamen to come and sit down with him and discuss this Lae city issue.”

Agi said following discussions with Sir Manasupe last week, he now understood better how the commission, provincial government, districts and LLGs would function with the establishment of the new entity. These three tiers of government will remain,” he said.

“As Ahi LLG president, Ahi LLG will remain, the lord mayor will remain, the governor will remain.

“The only new thing will be a new board to run this city commission.

“The lord mayor should work alongside me and Kelly Naru for the good of Lae and Morobe rather than criticising us.

“We may make some mistakes along the way, however, I need his support for the vote to take place in Parliament and for the establishment of the commission.”

Agi said he was confident of the bill being passed for the good of Lae, Morobe, and most importantly the people of Ahi.

“For more than 35 years, nothing good has happened for the Ahi people; no proper water, no proper electricity, no proper land services, no police stations, no health services,” he said.

“There is nothing to show that Ahi people are living in an urban area.

“I believe that people living on Ahi land will support us for development to take place.”

Agi said he supported Kouza, Sir Manasupe, and MPs for the establishment of the commission.

“Since the days of the late Steven Awagasi as Ahi LLG president, there have been no tangible developments in the Ahi villages and settlements,” he said.

“I need the support of all Ahi leaders in making this a reality.

“When I go back to Lae, I will go from village to village, settlement to settlement, to carry out awareness.”