Lae City

The boys from Lae beat Hekari United 5-4 in a very close encounter at the Sir John Guise Stadium on Saturday.

The atmosphere was one of high with anticipation and excitement as Hekari United supporters, donned in red, occupied one area of the stands while Toti City fans, in yellow and waving Morobean flags, could be seen at every corner of the Sir John Guise Stadium.

The 2019 grand final match between the two top semiprofessional football teams had supporters on their toes as the tug of war started on the pitch a few minutes after 3pm.

At a cost of K1.5 million, the fish market is a proper facility for artisanal fishermen to also sell their daily catch.

The crowded Lae Main Market on Friday had the bottom part of it reserved for the official opening of the new fish market. 

The new market is located right at the end corner of the main market.

Fisheries Minister and Member for Kabwum, Patrick Basa, cut the ribbon to open the doors of the fish market.

The fish market comes with an ice maker, a blast chiller and a storage container.

Acting metropolitan superintendent, Chief Inspector Fred Kaiwa, made the call following a number of reports of vehicles being stolen using key copies.

Kaiwa said many vehicles have been reported to be stolen in the last few months through this tactic.

Kaiwa added that police have reason to believe that there is a syndicate of criminals or specifically, car thieves, who are behind this.

He said the target areas are the main shopping centres, including Eriku and the main market.

In a press conference today in Port Moresby, Minape said his aim is to change Lae city into a proper, regulated settlement city.

“Lae has been stagnant for the last 41 years and needs a visionary leader to move it forward.”

He said settlements have been popping up everywhere in Lae city and a regulated system of settlement is needed.

Minape added that Lae is the industrial hub of the country and needed somebody with a vision to lead the people and show them the way.

“If I am elected as an MP, the buck stops with me. I don’t want evictions in Lae.”

Lae police boss, Anthony Wagambie Jnr says some members of the public and those travelling in and out of West Taraka have been harassed but these are only a few incidents.

“Generally West Taraka is now losing its bad reputation as the Wild West of Lae City,” says Wagambie.

Wagambie says police will not be shaken by these threats from a very small minority.

“I am issuing my warning to these individuals, you better not try it, because I assure you, you try it and you will get it.”

And electricity supplier PNG Power is working on a permanent solutions to avoid power outage in the future.

Chief Executive Officer Chris Bais when contacted said PNG Power was doing everything to ensure this problem is eased.

“We are working on permanent solutions and by end of January all will be good,” Bais said.

Many city residents and businesses are concerned the long hours of power outrage and constant black outs have affected their daily activities.

Bais said the power blackouts is simply because of key factors being worked on by PNG Power.

Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr said this while denying there was a string of robberies that took place last Monday.

He said robberies on business houses were well planned, with insiders giving information for a clean getaway.

“I want to assure the public that we (Police) have coordinated and planned operations in place to cater for the public and business houses,” Wagambie Jr said.

Eriku's Highlands bus-stop in Lae had families and city workers stranded on Christmas eve as early as 2pm for the "Tulait-Tulait" night ride.

Buses started leaving early during the day with no more Mt Hagen-bound PMVs visible at the bus-stop when PNG Loop visited there at 3pm  yesterday.