Sir J: Invest in priority areas

THE New Ireland government will continue to distribute and invest resources in priority areas following the decentralisation of powers and responsibility from the Works and Highways Department to the provincial government, governor Sir Julius Chan says.
“We will now manage our own roads with the decentralisation effective on Friday,” he added.
“This is a major programme and I will endorse the general policy of the Government on the major priority distribution based on needs,” he said.
Sir Julius said the Government allegedly failed to achieve its 25-year agreement benefits for the Lihir Mine.
“It has failed to comply with the memorandum of agreement (MoA) for a regular review. The Government was totally misguided on the royalty issue, which existed after 2007 (seven years of Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey’s rule).
“The distribution of royalties were an untaught, unplanned and unbudgeted,” he added.
Sir Julius said the MoA was clear and that more than K15 million provincial projects approved in 2021 and 2022 were owed by the Government.
“I have received nothing from Government except for millions wasted on Emirau,” he said.
“Who is in charge of projects in the province? Is it the Treasurer or the Government?” he asked.