New Ireland Province is the first in the country to complete its LLG Elections with the last two LLG's
Murat and Nimamar swearing in their Presidents on Friday 9th August.
The confirmed President's are as
follows:
Kavieng District
Lavongai LLG – Mathew Makapa
Tikana LLG – Sammy Missen
Kavieng Urban – Sikal Kelep
Murat LLG – Edwin Maigen
Namatanai District
Tanir LLG – Felix Kaltubim
Konoagil – Issac Tosel
Matalai – Augustine Topi
Namatanai – Joshua Takin
Nimamar LLG – Stanley Tunut
Sentral NIU Ailan – Ben Sakbua
Attending the swearing in of the Murat
LLG President in Kavieng, Governor Sir Julius praised the work of the
Provincial Election Steering Committee led by Provincial Administrator Lamiller
Pawut, Acting District Administrator David Lens, Autonomy Director Ricky
Fugonto and Director for Legislative and Executive services Ao Ure.
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( l to r ) Ricky Fugonto, Ao Ure, David Lens,
Lamiller Pawut and r Sir Julius Chan.
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Sir Julius also commended CEO's and
Directors of the New Ireland Government for going beyond their job descriptions
and taking part in the running of the Elections.
"We do things not because it
is easy, but because it is difficult. We have proven to the rest of PNG that we
can run one day polling successfully, on time and on a budget of half a
million. I applaud you all for making these elections a success. You can be
proud that you did it during your time," said Sir J.
The New Ireland Province is now aiming
to replicate the one-day style polling during the 2022 National Elections.
At the same time the NIPG is adamant on
taking up the responsibility to update the common rolls to stop occurrences of
names missing during future Elections.
Sir J called on all the newly elected
presidents to play leading roles at the LLG level along with all the Ward
Members so service delivery can be felt in the community.
The New Ireland Government has
allocated K200, 000 for all Local Level Government's and a further K30, 000 to
individual wards with the exception of Tanir, Konoagil, Mussau and Lavongai who
will receive K40, 000 because of their Geographical locations. This goes in
line with the NIPG's policy of " The further you are the more we
care."
The New Ireland Government is
spearheading a number of High Impact projects through out the Province this
includes the Unity Trans Island road, which will be officially opened on the
15th of August. Work on the 32 km Mussau ring road is progressing with its
completion set for December and there are road works on the West Coast Kabunut
to Palabong road and on Tanir.
Sir J also reaffirmed his vision of
turning Boliu High School into a secondary school, which would allow for
Seventh Day Adventists from other provinces to attend.
" To Govern is to choose, and the
wealth of the people must be in the hands of the people," said Sir J when
explaining that his Government had now engaged a Robin Hood style of leadership
to take back funding from the National Government and hand it back to the
people, thus the mission for Greater Autonomy.
