New town manager for Madang

 By JAYNE SAFIHAO

LAU Sorum is the new Madang town manager after the National Court  handed down its decision in his favour on Monday.

Sorum, a kiap by profession and a long-time public servant with most of his time spent in New Ireland, is not a newcomer to the Madang urban local Level government.

He had spent a couple of years with Madang Urban LLG as acting town manager and was suspended in August,  2009, following allegations of abuse of office by him. 

According to a six page decision handed down on Monday by Justice David Cannings, it puts to rest a five year long tussle and uncertainty surrounding the post for a permanent town manager.

Cannings ordered that by midday yesterday Sorum be sworn in; that he was duly appointed as the town manager of Madang Urban on Aug 16, 2012, and that the disputants –  former mayor Mike Kamo  and Madang Urban councillors  involved at that time, did not have the power or authority then and now to revoke or refuse the appointment.

Cannings said that a declaration was a discretionary remedy and that the court needed to be convinced that it was just and appropriate to declare the law or the legal status of the parties.