Director for Local Government affairs and Autonomy has called on New Irelanders to keep pushing for full Autonomy.
Speaking during a recent opening of the Kavieng District Administration office he said it was important for all New Ireland landowners to have power over their resources.
“Whether you like it or not, we are going into a new system of Government. Autonomy will come. The Districts and LLG’s will benefit from it. You papa, mama graun will get benefit from the gold, timber and fisheries from your respective surroundings. That is the whole idea behind why the Provincial Government is pushing for Autonomy,” said Fugonto.
Fugonto said Waigani should not be the one calling all the shots for resources that rightfully belong to the Provinces and its landowners.
National Government has let us down.
It continues to mismanage dividends from our resources and gives us crumbs in return.
Sir J has been pushing the agenda for 15 years, he will not be around forever, but we must continue our bid for full Autonomy.”
Fugonto said New Ireland has a population under 300,000 and can look after its population through the management of its resources.
“ New Ireland has already began the process by building the necessary infrastructure, like roads, Schools, hospitals and Council Chambers across all 10 LLG’s. This Kavieng District Administrative building will also greatly assist our development objectives with effective communication between the all the LLG’s. The district administrator is the Chief advisor of all the LLG’s.”
Acting Administrator Moses Taram said New Ireland in recent years has seen unprecedented development throughout the Province.
This office is an important asset of the province and the district. The four LLGs will be coordinated effectively as governments at the grassroots level.
We now have four Council Chambers in Kavieng District. These council chambers align well with the District office complex,” said Taram.
Taram stressed on the importance of forging partnerships and good working relationships between all arms of Government.
“In the New Year the New Ireland Government will fund some staff houses on the LLG seat of Government. Therefore on this occasion, I call on the DDA board and the district administration to partner with the Provincial Government to strengthen the capacity of our Local Level Governments,” said Taram.
After 27 years a new Kavieng District Administrative office was officially opened on Friday 16th December. The project cost K250,000 to build and was funded through the Kavieng District Development Authority.
The building will now allow for better processing of queries relating to the Kavieng District.
The event was well attended by all presidents in the Kavieng District including acting Governor Sammy Missen who praised the initiative of Kavieng District Administrator David Lens for pushing for the project and eventually making it become a reality.
The building is located within the Kavieng District Treasury premises.
Mr Lens said, “Kavieng Town is growing so this is only temporary.
We will allow Kavieng Urban Council to Govern the town area while a permanent District Administration office will be built further out of Kavieng Urban.”
The Kavieng District LLG presidents pledged to stand united and work together for the betterment of their people.