Naru plans business initiatives for locals

By GABRIEL LAHOC
MOROBE Governor Kelly Naru says he plans new initiatives that will allow the people of the province to meaningfully take part in business.
Naru said they would end 37 years of neglect, marginalisation and missed opportunities.
He delivered the message in his maiden independence speech to a packed crowd on Sunday at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium.
Naru singled out the provincial lands board and provincial land transport board as two important boards under his control that would come under the spotlight to initiate change.
“The policies, procedures and personnel in these two boards will come under the Naru government microscope where they will be reviewed and streamlined to achieve objectives as part of change,” he told the cheering thousands.
“For far too long the people of Morobe have missed out on owning land in Lae city. Why is scarce land in Lae city being distributed right, left and centre to any Tom, Dick and Harry who is not a Morobean to set them up in business at the expense of Morobeans who want to own land and participate in business.
 “This is morally and fundamentally wrong, Morobeans must be given the first option to own land and to do business in Lae city and Morobe.”
Naru said there were many questionable and illegal land deals in Lae that must be stopped to ensure the locals were given equal consideration in the system of land allocation.
He said the details of his policy would be worked out and strictly followed by the provincial lands board.
Naru promised to see the provincial lands transport board change its operation to encourage Morobeans to operate in the public transport system and take the lead.
“There will be a quota system introduced for ownership and operation of all land transport licences.
“That is to ensure Morobeans are given the majority of the licences and enable them to participate in business,” he said.
“For far too long we have watched from the sideline while the main game is played and enjoyed by others, we have become spectators on our own land, this must stop and this must change,” he said.
He vowed after being sworn-in last week as governor to investigate the contracting of the Lae road system, which was done by different contractors with different scopes of work.
“Lae roads have been a messy issue up to now and this government intends to fix it, what has happened in the past has happened and what remains to be done we will ensure that is it completed but we will get to the bottom of the incomplete project,” he said.
“Is it because of money? is it because of incompetency on the part of personnel charged with implementing this project, is it incompetency or incapacity on the part of the contractor that is charged with completing that project,” he asked.
He said some people would be accountable be prosecuted for not doing the right thing.