Sir Paulias wants autonomy

GRAND Chief Sir Paulias Matane has, once again, called on the O’Neill government to grant East New Britain autonomy.
“I live among my people and I know their struggles, they will benefit much more after East New Britain is given
autonomy,” he said.
He said 85% of the seven million lived in the rural areas and were the most neglected.
He said with autonomy, rural people in the province would be able to access more services.
He made the call last year when the new government was formed and is again urging the national government to consider his call.
 “Eleven years ago, I was given the task by the provincial government to chair the autonomy committee,” he said.
He said he was then given a higher responsibility to perform as governor-general of Papua New Guinea.
He said the province was only seeking administrative, financial, and political autonomy.
He said people of East New Britain had been waiting patiently for autonomy to be given to them in the three priority areas.
“Autonomy does not mean we will break away from PNG, we are part of Papua New Guinea and we will remain part of PNG,” he said.