Opposition Leader, Don Polye, has promised autonomy for East New Britain if the Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party forms the next Government.
He said this when launching the campaign of three THE Party Candidates in Kokopo on Saturday.
They include former MP Sir Sinai Brown (ENB Regional), Bruno Railam (Kokopo Open), and Pius Mano (Pomio Open).
According to a statement, Polye said ENB’s road to autonomy will be off the back of tourism and heavy investments in the agriculture sector.
Polye said the current laws governing land did not favour landowners and these would be reviewed.
“"When we want to develop tourism in the province, we will partner with landowners. They must provide their land as an equity to developers. Such an arrangement will make them to be millionaires and not spectators in their own land like always," he said.
He added K500 million will be invested in the agriculture sector with cocoa and copra to get K200 million each as well as K50 million for their own stabilisation funds.
He said these investments would qualify the province to gain its autonomy.
Polye claims other provinces ready for autonomy were Eastern Highlands, Western, Milne Bay and West New Britain, adding a strict criteria will be used to decide their preparedness for it.