New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan says the province is operating as an autonomous jurisdiction.
He said he and the Provincial Executive Council (PEC) have followed and concluded the necessary legal requirements for him to state this and urges other provinces to follow suit.
Chan said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Government have not said anything against New Ireland’s push for autonomy and believes they support it.
“New Ireland is already autonomous. You people are taking me too lightly,” stated the Governor.
“You think that I’m not, I am already autonomous. Whether the legal consequences of that has happened or not, we have followed every step that the constitution (has) to get autonomy in New Ireland and it has been approved by the Provincial Assembly, by the Provincial Executive Council and New Ireland is already autonomous
“And I believe again that Papua New Guinea should make all provinces responsible for themselves. Make the National Government smaller and give the responsibility back to the provinces.
“I haven’t heard the Prime Minister saying anything against my autonomy, so he must support it. Because he can’t oppose something that I’ve legally done, and I’ve followed all the procedures that is required legally. So I’m operating as an autonomous New Ireland province of Papua New Guinea!”
Sir Julius added that all provinces should be responsible to make their own decisions and operation of the province.
In September 2016, Chan said the Province was ready for autonomy following five years of preparation by the Provincial Autonomy Committee.
He said they are ready to take over most functions now handled by the National Government, which they are seeking;
- The highest form of autonomy with legislative, bureaucratic, administrative and financial powers devolved from Waigani.
- That New Ireland Province will remain an integral part of PNG, and will not seek independence or break away.
- That New Ireland Province will cooperate with the National Government to seek a mutually agreeable position on its pursuit of autonomy.
- New Ireland firmly believes that autonomy is the way forward for it to progress and realise its vision and mission embodied in the Malagan Declaration.
- New Ireland believes that autonomy should be granted very cautiously on a selective basis - to provinces which are ready, prepared and have the capacity to competently manage their autonomous powers.