New Ireland Province

Governor for New Ireland, Sir Julius Chan, said the two buildings now give confidence to New Ireland to welcome any important and high profile world leaders to visit and have the quality and standard of accommodation appropriate for their status. 

This has never been possible before, says the governor, and he is satisfied that they have invested in the buildings.

They noted the overwhelming support from the national, regional and international organisations, including from prominent leaders.

The project, which took five months to complete, included Newcrest and its business partner Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) working together to convert a run-down shelter into a state-of-the-art facility.   

The facility brings geotechnical soil testing at Lihir to another level, and is outfitted with precise calibrated, high tech equipment. Only a select few soils laboratories have the capacity to perform these advanced soil tests.

This was made possible through the Teach for Tomorrow project, an initiative delivered by the Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF), PNG Education Institute (PNGEI) and New Ireland Provincial Department of Education.

The certificate enables partially trained teachers – some 7,500 across PNG – to meet the PNG Government’s new minimum qualifications required of elementary teachers. Without the additional certification, the teachers would no longer be employable on the Government’s payroll, putting at risk the schooling of 225,000 students.

Coastal communities across the Bismarck Sea under the umbrella of the Alliance of Solwara Warriors claim that Nautilus and the PNG Government do not have their consent to go ahead with experimental seabed mining in the Bismarck Sea.

"Who are these leaders from New Ireland Province that Nautilus has handpicked?" said Jonathan Mesulam of the Alliance of Solwara Warriors.

“I am from the West Coast of New Ireland Province and I hear my people's concerns. Landowners on the west coast of New Ireland Province live only 25km from the Solwara 1 seabed mining site.

Progressive result after count 22:

New Ireland Regional - after count 22

It was a welcome never seen before and a true expression of the appreciation and gratitude by the people of Lihir to Sir Julius Chan and Minister Byron Chan during their visit to the islands last Friday.

The people went all out in traditional sing-sing and made gift presentations to the Governor, expressing their heartfelt and sincere appreciation for the policies they have benefited from for the last nine years.

The properties were officially opened by the local MP, Ben Micah, in the presence of Governor Sir Julius Chan, PEC members and Chiefs last Friday.

Headmistress of Lasiliba Primary School, Remis Eron, told the delegation that the completion of the building projects were a long time coming and the people are now excited they have come to fruition.

She said the projects were possible through the donation of K100,000 by Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, during his visit to the New Ireland in 2013. 

The deal was signed in Kavieng last Thursday.

The contract, worth nearly K25 million, was signed between CETC International Company Limited and New Ireland Development Corporation, the business arm of the New Ireland Provincial Government.

CETC International is one of the world’s largest multi-national companies involved with electronic technology products, space and aviation electronics and solar systems apart from other hi-tech systems and devices.

He said he and the Provincial Executive Council (PEC) have followed and concluded the necessary legal requirements for him to state this and urges other provinces to follow suit.

Chan said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Government have not said anything against New Ireland’s push for autonomy and believes they support it.

“New Ireland is already autonomous. You people are taking me too lightly,” stated the Governor.