NEW Ireland Provincial Government has formally acceded to the revised arrangements which commit mineral royalties from the Lihir Gold Mine to flow into the provincial purse.
New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) witnessed by the acting Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu, who was in Kavieng to officially open the New Ireland 100 Days Summit.
And as a token of good will requested by the governor for delays in fulfillment of the original agreement, a million kina cheque from the National Government was handed by Vice Minister for Mining Ano Pala, who was also in Kavieng to witness the Summit opening.
The signing now makes the tripartite MoA complete and binding between the National Government, the Lihir Rural Local Level Government, which included landowners, and the New Ireland Provincial Government.
Sir Julius initially declined to accede to the revised MoA because it omitted a number of key projects which were inclusive in the original agreement signed in 1995 when he was the Prime Minister.
In the ensuing consultations between National Government officials and the provincial team led by Sir Julius, a new understanding was reached which led to the affirmation of the MoA at the Summit opening.
Dr Temu, who was also the Minister for Mining, praised the governor for his cooperation and pledged closer working relationships for greater sharing of the national wealth through project support across the country.