Sir Julius wants more power given to provinces

NEW Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan says sharing the wealth of the country and giving greater power to the provincial and local level governments is the future for Papua New Guinea.
Speaking at his 80th birthday celebration in Port Moresby last Thursday – a week before his actual birth day on Aug 29 – Sir Julius said billions of kina in resource revenue flowed out of the country every year yet the people remained poor.
“We are working to revise the Mining Act to give ownership of all mining activities to the landowners and the people of New Ireland and PNG,” he said.
“The same is true of oil and gas, forestry and fisheries.
“Our people are being ripped off.
“It is up to us to stop it.”
The birthday celebration was organised last Thursday evening jointly by the office of the Speaker of Parliament, Office of Mining Minister and deputy leader of People’s Progress Party (PPP) Johnson Tuke, and family and friends of Sir Julius.
Sir Julius, who is the leader of PPP, said the granting of significant powers to the provinces was a system that provided the greatest benefits to the most people.
“We need to learn this lesson and the sooner the better,” he said.
“So, that is my mission now.
“I am incredibly humbled by the presence of so many friends and colleagues from so many years.
“I am honoured you have all taken time to mark my 80th birthday, and that this is being done in Parliament the House of the people.”
More than 200 people turned up for the event.