Sir Julius Chan makes a statement in PNG Parliament

New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan makes a statement in PNG Parliament on May 29, 2019. It was during the resignation of Peter O'Neill as Prime Minister

My friends, I just want to say a few words today. 

I have been part of the politics of this country for more years than this country has existed.  I have seen times of crisis, times of danger, times of peril.  But in my more than 50 years of politics I have never seen the kind of hostility, the kind of division, the kind of – and I must use the word – the kind of hatred I have seen in the past weeks. 

That is why – three days ago – I went to see the Prime Minister.  And I talked frankly to him.  I said I felt that the longer he tried to stay in office the more the country would become divided.  And as a friend I suggested that the thing that he could do at this time to show his love for his country was to step aside. 

Peter O’Neill heard what I was saying.  And he agreed to step aside. 

I think we can learn from Peter O’Neill.  Let us put away self-interest.  Let us put away greed.  Let us put away anger.  Because, my friends, we have made a horrible mistake. 

We have fooled ourselves into thinking that Government and Opposition are enemies.  They are not.

Sir Julius Chan makes the statement in Parliament

 We have enemies, but the enemies are those who would divide us, those who would have us attack and slander each other.  And in doing so they prevent us from dealing with the real problems our country faces.  And believe me, we have serious problems we all need to deal with.

A wise man once said “There is no sea more dangerous than the ocean of politics.  And it is when the waves rise to their highest that there is the greatest need of an experienced captain, a good crew, and of a single, unfaltering purpose. “

So today let us act as adults.  Today let us declare ours is not a Government of any one party, or of three or four or five parties.  No…

Today let us declare our Government is a UNION of Papua New Guinea PATRIOTS.   Today let us agree that we will ALL WORK TOGETHER – as Patriots of Papua New Guinea – to take control of our country – to take our country back!! 

Today we can take the first step.  Today we can work together – TOGETHER – to find a captain.  Peter O’Neill has opened a door for us.  Let us walk through. 

Let us all agree on an experienced captain to pilot the Ship of State into a truly prosperous future.  And let us all serve as a good crew, a united crew. A patriotic crew.

Together we can do this.  As Patriots.  As Papua New Guineans. 

New Hanover people in New Ireland urged to take ownership of law and order issues

The people of New Hanover in New Ireland are being urged to take control of their own policing and community affairs.

The New Ireland Provincial Government has issued a statement.

Governor Sir Julius Chan made the call at Ungat during his last visit on Sunday  April 28. His visit was a result of a murder committed on Saturday April 27, following fighting between villages in the area. New Hanover is known to be a volatile area historically, with much of the fighting attributed to revenge killings.

According to a police report the deceased Sition Michael, of Neikaukai village was beheaded. He had previously also murdered another person namely, Passinganrina Laitis of Tabotakalas village, South Lavongai.

“There are two fighting groups that are in these remote areas having access to weapons of their choice, using them for paybacks from nearby villages. There was destruction to food crops, pets, 7 houses were burnt and another 2  were badly damaged,” reported Provincial Police Commander Gideon Ikumu. 

Again recently more senseless violence and destruction of private property has occurred leaving some 20 children and adults homeless after homes were burnt.

Sir Julius told locals that if they want lasting peace it had to come from themselves through change in their attitudes. He urged the people to value life.

“ God created and you destroyed. What you did is against the 5^th commandment “ Thou shall not kill”. 

There is no use dispatching police here, what will it solve? You leaders and the community have to take a tough stance. Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.” expressed Sir J.

He said the local population has grown but there has been very little to show in terms of physical infrastructure on the ground. This is attributed to the lack of responsibility by the locals to look after infrastructure which included the Digicel communication towers.

“ The population is growing but you have nothing to show. Lavongai is still the same as when our forefathers were still around. We have to think about the future generation, what will we leave behind for them?”

The 60km Unity road, which is 25km complete, is the vision of Sir Julius to unite   the North and South of New Hanover. He said next time he returns to New Hanover in August, is to open the road.

“This road has received the biggest funding allocation of the 2018-2019 budget with K7.5 million spent so far, the total cost after the road is complete is an estimated K20 million,” said Sir Julius.

Responding to a query by the President of the Lavongai LLG Mathew Makapa about the government assisting with funding for start up Small to Medium Enterprises, Sir J said, “ My Government has authorized K200, 000 for all 10 LLG Presidents to fund approved projects and K30, 000 to your ward members, you can submit your proposals to them.”

Sir J said this is the biggest allocation ever to restore the third tier LLG Government and is in line with his government’s policy of decentralization of Powers.