NIP sets out initiatives

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
THE New Ireland provincial government has set out project initiatives that it plans to implement under the leadership of Governor Sir Julius Chan.
The initiatives were based on standards that will meet the national government priorities of boosting basic developments.
Sir Julius, Kavieng parliamentarian and Public Enterprises Minister Ben Micah and Namatanai MP and Mining Minister Byron Chan met with senior public servants and heads of the private sector in the province and outlined the basic development initiatives.
In the meeting, provincial executive committee and the provincial implementation committee, which Sir Julius chaired, talked about progressing the New Hanover Trans-Island highway, upgrading and sealing of the Namatanai and Kavieng roads and the water supply and sanitation programme for
the province.
The 10km stretch of Buluminski Highway from Bopire to Namatanai will be completed as well.
There was a quarterly briefing by Lihir Gold mine operator Newcrest Lihir to the ministers.
Sir Julius stressed his concerns at the slow implementation of the Tax Credit Scheme, for which Newcrest provided an outline of a new strategy to improve implementation. 
He said the Tax Credit Scheme was for the benefit of the people of New Ireland and that it was crucial that all projects under the TCS fitted in the priorities of the provincial government. 
The meeting ended with the signing of a memorandum of understanding pledging the provincial government and Newcrest Lihir to cooperate for rapid and effective implementation of the Tax Credit Scheme and to work to involve more New Ireland firms in planning and contracting under the TCS.