New Ireland Government

NIPG decentralizes Independence celebrations

In a move reflecting their commitment to inclusivity, a total of K142, 000 was disbursed, with each of the 142 wards receiving K1, 000.

This funding allocation was officially announced by Governor Sir Julius Chan during the recent inauguration of the Malendok road. He symbolically presented K14, 000 to President Felix Kaltubim, signifying the support extended to the 14 wards within the Tanir Local Level Government (LLG).

New Ireland Day Called Off

Wednesday 27th July, was gazetted as a public holiday as per Provincial Executive Council decision #10, however, Governor-elect Sir Julius Chan advised all New Irelander’s, including schools, Public Servants, Business Houses, Churches and the General public, to commemorate the day in their own special way. 

Sir Julius thanked all New Irelanders for a peaceful election period and asked everyone to take the time to reflect on how far they have come since the signing of the Provincial Charter in 1977.

Push For Village Record Book Use

This comes after mounting concerns that many eligible voters could not find their names in the preliminary electoral roll displayed in their respective wards.

Provincial Election Steering Committee Chairman and Provincial Administrator, Lamiller Pawut said if New Ireland wants to see fair and transparent elections, the Province’s Independent Data collection system the “Village Record Book” must be used.

 An agreement was signed with the Department of Provincial Government and Local Level Government affairs three years ago to begin the data collection process.

PEC Approves Election Sub-Committee

The PEC recently held a meeting on Tuesday 2 November, approving the set-up of a sub-committee of three members, Deputy Governor, Sammy Missen, Chairman for Law and Order, Edwin Maigen and Chairman for Transport & Infrastructure, Clement Mosson to work with the Provincial Election Steering Committee.

 

The steering committee will hold weekly briefings with the sub-committee primarily to clear doubts about Election Form 11 for new enrolments and updating of the election roll by unauthorized persons.

 

Sir J, Clan Re-establish Ties

The local Chiefs brought Sir Julius to the exact spot where he was customarily bestowed his leadership rite of passage by Nicholas Brokam, one of the first New Irelanders that made it into the Legislative Council of PNG from 1951 to 1964 through the support of an American Catholic Priest.

Students win essay competition

The four students have made their school proud with this accomplishment topping the competition in the Upper Primary category and coming second in the lower primary category.

The event held in Namatanai during the New Ireland Day celebration recently with the winning students and 10 others representing the college.

School Principal Jonah Salot said: “I have pride in Kopkop College Team in Kavieng Campus. The students have evidently proven that the teachers have been committed and dedicated in all areas of their work under my direction.”

Kavieng Finance Woes

In a letter to the Provincial Administrator, Ling Stuckey said he granted the budget conditional approval, and named two conditions that need to be satisfied before full approval is granted.

The conditions are that the provincial development plan 2017-2022 and acquittals on all Lihir royalty funds from 2007 to 2020 must accompany the budget submission.

Stuckey also said in the letter that the funds for the months of January, February, March and April only will be released and the balance of the funds will be frozen until the conditions are met.

Reserved LLG seat for women

Governor Sir Julius Chan made this announcement following the province’s one-day LLG elections polling.

“This will allow for gender balance at the LLG level,” he said, which is also in line with the matrilineal culture.

Furthermore, the New Ireland Government is determined to give the LLGs more autonomy and has moved to increase approved project funding for presidents to K200,000 while ward members will continue to receive ward level funding of K30,000.

Community supports public funds probe

Raphael Boski, the Konogogo community leader from the West Coast of Central New Ireland LLG, said persons who hold positions of trust and authority must be held accountable when dealing with public funds.

Boski is supporting the Governor’s office, who sought the help of Police Detectives to investigate cases of community projects like church buildings, community halls and aid posts that were funded, but never erected.

Sir Julius Chan called for an investigation into alleged misappropriation of Government Project Funds given between 2010 and 2017.

New Ireland to enact Forestry Act

Following its meeting last December, the Provincial Executive Council directed the administration to draft the Provincial Forest Law that would align operations of the PNG Forest Authority and National Forest Service with the conditions in the 2018 Service Delivery Partnership Agreement and Greater Autonomy endeavor. This was signed on Tanga during the Council of Elders meeting last November.