General manager for the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, David Conn, has paid tribute to his Morobean counterpart, the late Alan John McLay.
Speaking to Loop PNG from Alotau, he said: “Alan was a stalwart for the business community in Lae, well-respected and constant in everything.”
Conn relayed that McLay’s heart was always with the people of Morobe that there was no doubt the people of Morobe will miss him.
Referring back to conversations with McLay, Conn said he had been very critical of the fact that there was more development happening in Port Moresby in comparison to Lae.
“Of course he was quite right in that regard. Lae being the industrial port and the link to the highlands, he has every right to complain about it, but he sort of softened up a little bit when there were some new roadworks there, with the development of the road out of Lae into Nazab.
“Alan was instrumental in all of these, the lobbying and technical aspects,” said Conn.
“The Lae chamber is one of the largest chambers in the country, very influential, there are plenty of good people who will take on the baton; it will be a tough baton to take on.
“Alan’s been there a long, long time and they will forge their own direction,” said Conn.
McLay passed away on Wednesday night at the Angau memorial Hospital in Lae, Morobe Province.
The late Allan John McLay was 72 years old at the time of his passing, born in Victoria Australia, on January 16, 1945.
McLay was just 13 days shy of his 73rd birthday.
