Tranditional landowners give their blessings

 THE landowners from Butibam and Kamkumung villages, the traditional landowners of Lae city, have given their blessing to the proposed Lae City Authority.

Butibam chief Malac Nathaniel said that yesterday after a meeting between Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and a delegation from Lae led by Morobe Governor Kelly Naru. They agreed to move ahead with the setting up of the authority to govern the city. 

The bill for the new authority is expected to be introduced in Parliament as early as today.

“The Prime Minister has assured us that the authority will help the people of Butibam and Kamukumung,” Nathaniel said.

“I asked the Prime Minister how we the people of Butibam and Kamkumung will benefit and he said we would be directly involved in the authority. We want some positions in the authority such as deputy chairmanship, city manager and others. The Prime Minister said we would be included.”

Bukam (Butibam-Kamkumung) chairman Ali Isaac said the boundaries of the city would be extended with establishment of the authority.

“The boundaries will extend out to cover parts of Nawaeb and Huon Gulf,” Issac said.

“The Government should address outstanding issues such as compensation for Lae City land.

“We support the Lae City Authority but outstanding issues such as land compensation must be addressed. We would like the Government to address that issue and pay us.”

O’Neill said the new city authority will be chaired by Lae MP Loujaya Kouza.