Morobe govt unchanged in its position over authority issue

 THE Morobe provincial government has not changed its position to file Supreme Court reference over the issue of Lae City Authority, Governor Kelly Naru says.

Naru said the provincial executive council was aware that the Lae City Authority Act (LCA) passed in Parliament 59-5 in June was unconstitutional. Naru was referring to Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc’s comments on the front page of The National yesterday.

“As usual factually incorrect, PEC has never met with Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc and our position has not changed yet,” Naru said.

“We, therefore, still file the Supreme Court reference next week because at the moment we are dealing with the protest and petition matters.” 

However, Lord Mayor KoimTrilue Leahy confirmed that with the assistance of city manager Roy Kamen, a budget to cater for municipal services was drafted and submitted to him (Sir Manasupe).

Leahy said that despite the existing issue of LCA Act between the Government and provincial government, the LCA still needed finance to enhance its service delivery.  

“If the Government wants to enforce LCA Act into reality in 2016, though was never allocated any funding in 2016, a law is needed to guide and protect the chairmanship of LCA without the Government’s political influence,” Leahy said.

“The chairmanship of the LCA should be the mandated leader of Lae city elected by people as Lord Mayor and not the National MP.”