Amani is New Ireland acting administrator

THE New Ireland provincial executive council has approved the appointment of planning and finance chief executive officer Monovi Amani as acting provincial administrator.
The appointment was made after Simeon Malai retired from work having reached the compulsory retirement age of 60 years.
Governor Sir Julius Chan said the PEC budget meeting in Kavieng yesterday accepted the retirement of Malai but had retained him to serve out his remaining term on special duties with the New Ireland provincial autonomy committee and the NGI regional office.
He said Amani would maintain continuity in the administration, especially during an election year.
Malai, who had served as provincial administrator and senior executive in Manus and Waigani, NCD, until his appointment to New Ireland in February 2009, was due for retirement on Dec 26. His four-year contract does not expire until Feb 13 next year.
Sir Julius commended Malai for his loyal and dedicated service and, especially, for the successful framing of the 2012 provincial budget.
He said it was the first time under his watch that the provincial administration had satisfactorily done that.