Residents told to embrace change

 A FORMER Lae city authority administrator has called on everyone in Morobe to support the Government’s move to create a city commission chaired by Lae MP Loujaya Kouza.

Tokana Hasavi, the city manager, chairman and mayor from 1986 to 1991, was responding to opposition to Kouza’s (pictured) new role as Lae City Commission administrator.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was in Lae last week to discuss the proposed commission with Morobe Governor Kelly Naru and other national and provincial leaders.

“As a former city manager, chairman and mayor, I think it’s time now that we seriously look at getting our infrastructure right, our systems right in the city,” Hasavi said.

“I support the Government on this issue. I’m glad that the Prime Minister has talked with the Governor and the MP (Kouza) on this. I know that there are other issues to sort out. 

“The MP is going to hold a workshop or a forum and I think it’s best she does that so that we can really get the message across to our people. 

“We can’t continue to see the city falling apart.”

Hasavi said contrary to what was being said by critics of the commission, Lae landowners would definitely be taken care of under this arrangement. 

“We will make sure we have an arrangement where the Ahi people will benefit so I support the (commission) idea,” he said.