The provincial government has the final say concerning whether or not district plans and projects are appropriate to implement.
New Ireland Governor, Sir Julius Chan, was responding to criticism in a recent newspaper ad concerning the use of royalties from the Lihir Gold Mine.
“Section 8(c) of the District Development Authority Act says the DDA shall ‘not perform any of its functions or exercise any of its powers in a way that is inconsistent or in conflict with the policies and plans of the Provincial Government’.
Sir Julius pointed out that for the last 10 years, the New Ireland government worked proficiently under the Malagan Declaration and the Malagan Declaration Forward, both unanimously passed by the provincial assembly.
“Those two statements have provided the spiritual and practical basis for the progressive development plans implemented in New Ireland, including for the use of royalties,” says the Governor.
“The use of royalties was fully endorsed by the two former Members and LLG presidents who have been very pleased with the deployment of those funds to district and LLG projects.”
Sir Julius further claims under his Government, seven more secondary schools were built, bringing the total to eight.
“Under my Government total attendance has gone from 25,000 to more than 64,000. Under my Government there is now a secondary or high school in every LLG.
“For now I intend to concentrate on delivering services and programs to the People of New Ireland as my Government has done for the past ten years.
“Our people deserve better than statements without substance and without real facts.”