New Irelanders must be proud to have roads built into isolated and inaccessible areas.
This includes the New Hanover Trans-Island Highway, Mussau ring road and roads on the West Coast of New Ireland.
Governor Sir Julius Chan in his festive season message, said the 342-kilometre Boluminski Highway, which is one-of-a-kind, is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.
The year 2018 has been a hectic yet productive year for New Ireland Province.
Among those programs, are the free and subsidized education and the Old Age Pension, with K154 million spent since 2008.
Churches were also recognised this year, with K1.4 million to the Catholic Church; K1 million to the United Church; K200,000 to the Seventh-Day Adventist church while other churches were allocated K600,000. That is K3.2m provided to institutions of faith in 2018 alone.
Since the inception of this key partnership with churches in 2015, a total of K9.8 million has been distributed.
Among other achievements this year, Governor Sir Julius said New Irelanders must be proud they have roads, thanks to funding from the Australian and the National governments.
Roads built into isolated and inaccessible areas include the New Hanover Trans-Island Highway, Mussau ring road and all of Tikana road upgrading on Lossuk to Lavolai and Kaut to Lokono, Kavin and Tome roads.
“Along the West Coast, they continue road upgrades from Lamusmus reaching Patlangat and onward to Dampet and beyond to Palabong, Nasko and Lamassa,” said Sir Julius.
“The one-of a kind 342-kilometre Boluminski highway scheduled to be completed by the end of this month has certainly made travel by road more comfortable.
“Having all these ongoing projects, New Ireland has made real progress this year.
“First, the signing of an Agreement on Gradative Decentralization of Powers at the Governors’ Conference in Madang early this year.
“And on October 31st, at the Council of Elders Meeting in Tanga, we signed an even more comprehensive agreement with the Prime Minister to decentralise powers to New Ireland from the national level. Autonomy is our gift to our future generations, and we must attain it in its fullest form.”
This festive season, he called on every New Irelander to reflect both on their achievements and shortcomings, better themselves, and together with commitment and hard work, they will take New Ireland into its next chapter.
(Loop filepic of Kulipteina Nest dancers)