Lasting peace comes from yourselves, Sir Julius says

NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan is calling on the New Hanover people to take control of their own policing and community affairs.
Sir Julius made the call at Ungat during his visit last month after another killing following infighting between villagers in the area.
“If you want lasting peace it must come from yourselves through change in your attitudes. You must value life,” he said.
Sir Julius said the local population has grown but there has been very little to show in terms of physical infrastructure on the ground.
“This is because of the lack of responsibility by the locals to look after infrastructure including the Digicel communication towers,” he said.
“Lavongai is still the same as when our forefathers were still around.
“We have to think about the future generation, what will we leave behind for them?” In a move to unite the North and South of New Hanover, the 60km Unity road, which is 25km complete, is the vision of Sir Julius to unite the North and South of New Hanover.
He said the next time he returns to New Hanover in August will be to open the road.
Sir Julius also said his Government authorised K200,000 for all the 10 local level government presidents to fund approved projects and K30,000 to ward members.
He said this was the biggest allocation ever to restore the third tier government and is in line with the government’s policy of decentralisation of powers.
Sir Julius said councillors and council presidents were the very people who lives and knows the real problems of the bulk of the people in rural areas.
He said empowering them to deliver services would improves people’s living standards.