Governor urges NIP MPs to address king tide issues

The National National
Katakana village in New Ireland that has been affected by the recent king tides. – Pictures supplied

NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan is urging the province’s two MPs to provide more financial support to address king tides affecting villages in the province.
He called specifically for the support of Kavieng MP Ian Ling-Stuckey and Namatanai MP Walter Schnaubelt who he said had been given more than enough money to support the people.
Sir Julius said his office had been inundated with funding requests to cover relief supplies and disaster assessment work, following the destruction caused by the king tides last month.
Sir Julius, who met with the provincial disaster manager Terrance Tasia said K100,000 had been requested for relief efforts.
Tasia said: “The provincial government is not in a financially capable position after its provincial budget was cut by the former treasurer (Ian Ling-Stuckey) by K40 million. “With New Ireland having two senior ministers, they should be the first point of call when these types of disasters strike.

Katakana village in New Ireland that has been affected by the recent king tides. – Pictures supplied

“They know very well my government has been stripped off K40 million that would have helped to assist in times like this.
“The Kavieng MP to be blamed for the decrease in this year’s budget. He cannot neglect his own people when they need him the most especially during times of natural disasters.”
Sir Julius said both receiving huge payments of Lihir royalties and district services improvement programmes (DSIP) funding which had not been used to support people disaster supplies and coordination.
“Since 2021 a total of K124 million in royalties has been paid directly to the district development authorities (DDA) of the two districts, that’s K49 million each,” Sir Julius said.