New Ireland

There’s been an increase in the number of secondary schools from only four high schools in 2007 to 11 Secondary Schools in 2023.

Chairman for Education Felix Kaltubim when presenting the Education Sector’s statement to the New Ireland Provincial Assembly commended a major policy shift when the Chan government took over in 2007.

“Moreover, the retention rate of girls in schools has improved from 35% in 2007 to equal 52% to boys today.

Kavieng District Development Authority have presented a total of twenty three 23ft 40hp boats and one 60hp engine to the mothers engaged in SME in the district.

The boats were presented by KDDA board member Micheal Panda and Manager, Chris Gai, to mothers engaged with the Kavieng MPs SME policy platform.

The remaining 11 boats and engines for the remaining respective wards will be presented after the executive committees finalized the wards.

The visit was to strengthen Chinese medical relations with the Kavieng General Hospital and also to nurture cordial relations with the people of New Ireland.

The team consisted of Deputy Captain of the China Medical Team Dr Jason Liu who a pediatrician, Dr Hongbo Liu a traditional Chinese medical practitioner and physiotherapist, Dr. Haibo MU a gynecologist/ obstetrician and assistant nurse Chang Yuang.

Third secretary of the Chinese Embassy in PNG, Jiang Yewei accompanied the team.

After Primary count of all 10 LLG’s, incumbent Governor and Senior Statesman Sir Julius Chan won through a convincing 31,717 Votes.
This was 54.66 percent of the total formal Votes of 58,024.

Indigenous party candidate, Moses Markis was the runner-up with 16, 592, while only female candidate, Rhodie Paut from Tandis village in the Sentral Niu Ailan received 2,115 votes. 

Governor Sir Julius Chan during his declaration ceremony thanked all New Irelanders for the mandate and for trusting his leadership to lead the province for another five years.

Air Niugini will operate daily Fokker jet services between Port Moresby and Kavieng, as well as connecting the provincial capital of New Ireland with Rabaul, Hoskins, Lae, Manus Island and Buka. 

The resumption of Fokker flights follows the completion of runway maintenance and upgrading works by the National Airports Corporation (NAC). 
Since the works on the airport runway commenced over a year ago, Air Niugini has been operating to Kavieng using smaller Dash-8 aircraft, but with passenger numbers restricted to as few as 20 at times because of the shortened runway.

New Ireland Provincial Police Commander, Felix Nebanat, said offenders are capitalising on the constraints faced by local police, hence the escalation in crime.

The mobile squad unit was called in by PPC Nebanat after his officers were attacked when responding to a wilful damage report involving over K20,000 worth of goods.

Furthermore, following the rise in lawlessness on the Tigak islands, Chief inspector Nebanat urged all New Irelanders to cooperate with police to restore normalcy on the islands.

Seventeen candidates are contesting the Kavieng Open seat, 19 for Namatanai Open seat, while 14 for the New Ireland Regional Seat.

Rhodie Paut-Nawara, running as an Independent candidate will contest the New Ireland Regional Seat.

Ruthy Watlen, Marianne Millie, Lucy Siki Aiyia, Rubbie Kerepa are all running as Independent candidates for Kavieng Open.

In the Namatanai Electorate, candidates Getrude Salir and Grace Nakamai are also contesting as Independent candidates.

Namatanai Open Returning Officer, Tifi Taylor told this newsroom that the 13 candidates nominated in Namatanai town. Each nominee came with two witnesses.

Sitting MP Walter Schnaubelt running under the National Alliance Party, also nominated, as well as former Namatanai MP Byron Chan, who nominated under the People’s Progress Party. One of the 13 is female candidate, Gerthude Sialir. Mrs Sialir is running as an independent candidate. 

The Returning Officer said as off midday yesterday, no candidate approached the nomination grounds.

The team looked into logging camps and business houses in New Ireland last week, where they charged 30 individuals for breaches in their visa and work permits.

The acting provincial administrator at the time, Moses Taram, said the state team, comprising officers from Immigration, Labour and the Police, found that up to 80 percent of the foreign workers did not comply with the provisions of their work permits, while others did not have customs clearance to work in Papua New Guinea.

Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen and senior staff from the Ombudsman Commission made this request following their visit to Kavieng yesterday.

They further asked the MPs to extend the lockup in Kavieng to avoid containing men, women and juveniles in the same cells.

The visit to Kavieng follows their trip to Manus on Monday.

The Member for Kavieng, on behalf of the Kavieng District Development Authority, was delighted to host the meeting held at the Nusa Island retreat.