Markets shut for visit

 INFORMAL markets in Lae city will be closed during a visit by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and a high-level delegation.

The Lae City Council (LCC) has issued temporary closure notice to a number of informal markets.

Lae police operations Chief Fred Kaiwa told The National yesterday that his office was also served copies of the notice and instructed to close the markets by force if necessary.

“China Town and Works Compound informal sector markets are among those trading areas that will be closed for an indefinite period,” Kaiwa said.

He said the closure was to prevent unwarranted problems and ease traffic during the visit.

The prime minister is expected to arrive in Lae this morning with a big delegation of senior cabinet ministers, People’s National Congress Party (PNC) representatives and MPs.

“I urge people to behave and assist police make the PM’s visit here a pleasant one,” Kaiwa said.

He said 50 policemen would be stationed at the vicinity of the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium.

The stadium’s indoor complex is where the prime minister’s will be holding a two-day conference where he is expected to make some major announcements. 

Morobe Governor Kelly Naru promised a “true kande welcome”.

Naru said O’Neill had made visits to Lae in the past but this visit was special because he was bringing the ruling political party with him.

He confirmed that O’Neill would deliver funds for road works in Lae.

“The prime minister will announce money that will go into the ongoing urban road rehabilitation in Lae and the much-anticipated Lae to Nadzab four-lane road.”

Sources in Waigani said the PM, Works Minister Francis Awesa and Naru would break ground for the Lae to Nadzab four-lane road.