New Ireland Completes Election for LLG Presidents

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.

( l to r )  Ricky Fugonto, Ao Ure, David Lens,  

Lamiller Pawut and r Sir Julius Chan.

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.

 -New Ireland Provincial Government Media