Sports in Lepa’s to-do list

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

A FORMER rugby league administrator has started campaigning for the Lae lord mayor’s seat in the local level government (LLG) election.

Former Ipatas Cup administrator Timothy Lepa began his first public campaign at the Nawaeb block on Monday by highlighting amendments that he planned to make to the proposed Lae City Commission that was recently rejected by the Morobe provincial executive council (PEC).

Lepa said his other election issues were youth development, city beautification and sports development, including the return of the Lae City Bombers rugby league club.

He told supporters, ward one candidates and seven other rival candidates who attended the gathering that he would revisit the commission proposal initiated by current lord mayor James Khay and make amendments for its reintroduction to the PEC if he was elected.

“I believe my proposal will be accepted. The city commission will allow the municipal authority to generate income for projects in the city, thus relying on the provincial budget for service delivery,” he said.

Lepa said he would also promote a national youth brigade concept, which should take over primary security services in the city as part of a youth socio-economic development.

He also promised to upgrade all sporting facilities around Lae and introduce semi-professional sport with the help of business houses.

“I will revive the original Lae B52 bombers in the semi-professional rugby league.”

“As  a citizen of Lae and CEO of the CocaCola Ipatas Cup competition, I owned and worked with eight teams in Lae to promote our players to form the new team Lae B52 Bombers,” he said.