Gambling outlawed in NI

 GAMBLING will be outlawed and primary school education compulsory in New Ireland from mid next month.

 It follows the provincial executive council’s (PEC) endorsement of two new Acts for the province on Tuesday.

They are the New Ireland Compulsory Primary Education Bill 2013 and the New Ireland Prohibition of Gaming Bill 2013.

The bills are now ready to be presented to the Provincial Assembly in the next sitting on June 19 and both are likely to become law.

The New Ireland Compulsory Primary Education Bill 2013 has provision for compulsory education to be implemented in the province.

Under this proposal, children of New Ireland origin and residents between the ages of five and 12 years are required to be enrolled in schools.

The bill, once ratified, is subject to the provisions of the Education Act (163) and the provincial education Act 2005.

The Gaming Bill 2013 prohibits any form of gambling and restricts the application of the Gaming Control Act 2007 in the province.

This also means that the national Act will not be applied in New Ireland, outlawing all forms of gaming and gambling including lotteries, games and wagers, gaming machines and casinos in the province.

While discussing the new bill, Governor Sir Julius Chan said allowing or encouraging people to be involved in gaming and lottery was not in line with his government’s vision.

“All forms of gambling are against our Christian rules and often result in broken families and heartaches,” he said.

“As we move into autonomous status, let us all contribute in one way or another to the development of the province.”

Sir Julius said he was also looking forward to the opening of Anelava Vocational Centre in the province soon.