Deputy Governor of New Ireland, Sammy Missen reinforced his support for Governor Sir Julius Chan after the two New Ireland Open MPs, Walter Schnaubelt of Namatanai and Ian Ling-Stuckey of Kavieng, continued their slanderous attacks on Sir J. “It is remarkable that Ian Ling-Stuckey is quoted as saying ‘Elected representatives in New Ireland must demonstrate restraint, take a measured approach in their decision making and humble themselves." But Minister Stuckey does the opposite, refusing to approve the New Ireland Budget for nearly FIVE months now, doing irreparable harm to the people he supposedly represents. Our budget was the very first Provincial Budget submitted to the Treasurer, but he refuses to approve it and has given neither us nor the People of New Ireland any justifiable reason for his refusal. His actions mean critical health, education, infrastructure and other programs are not being delivered to the People. Is this ‘demonstrating restraint and taking a measured approach in decision making?” Missen continued, saying “After all his talk about measured approaches and demonstrating restraint, Ling-Stuckey and Walter Schnaubelt then released a long diatribe, supported by their lackeys, the Presidents of the Namatanai LLGs, who are supported by handouts from the Open Members, accusing Sir J of one misbehaviour after another. They say Sir J has been reported to the Ombudsman and the Police Fraud Squad for illegally acquiring land. What they don’t say is that the Ombudsman and Police never took up the unfounded claims as there was no merit to the accusations. But that is not reported.” “They say there was a complaint to the Ombudsman and the Fraud Sqaud about Sir J’s relationship with New Ireland Works Ltd. What they don’t say is that both the Ombudsman and Fraud Squad found there was nothing substantive to the complaint. In fact, New Ireland Works is, and always has been, fully owned by the New Ireland Government – not Sir J, the New Ireland Government. These shameful Open Members report all kinds of accusations made against Sir J on Social Media, but guess what? It is all just rubbish, rumours started by Ling-Stuckey and Schnaubelt who use their mouthpieces to slander Sir J. Do they attend Provincial Assembly to air their grievances? No.” Missen said that “They accuse Sir J of not acquitting the use of the Lihir royalties since 2007. What world are these people living in? The use of the Lihir royalties is outlined every year in the New Ireland Provincial Budget, and Sir J has provided a detailed listing of the use of those funds several times. Those royalties support education, including rations for our boarding students, pensions for our Elderly and Disabled, grants of between K30,000 and K40,000 to every one of the 142 wards in New Ireland for them to use on their priority programs. The New Legislative Assembly, Roads, Lighting New Ireland, 10 LLG Council Chambers, New Sporting Stadiums and many others. Completely open, accountable, and transparent.” “The truth is the Lihir MoA says that of the 50% of the royalties that come to the New Ireland Government, 20% should be used in Kavieng District and 20% in the Namatanai District. The truth is that over the past 14 years both Districts have received MORE money in programs than they should have under the Lihir MoA. Both have got MORE than 20% of the royalties.” Missen also pointed out that “The two Open Members recently convinced the NEC to declare the royalties should be delivered directly to the Districts – not, as the MoA says, to the Province for use in the Districts. And for some reason Newcrest has done this for the past two months. Each Member has received about K3 million in royalties for February and March. Where has that money gone? Not to the Elderly and Disabled. They have received nothing. Not to rations for our students. They have no food to eat. Not to any of the programs our People want and value. It is funny Sir J is accused of not acquitting the use of royalties when he does that every year. Well, how about the Open Members? Where have those millions gone and where is the 64 million gone that Stuckey and his Lemus structure never acquitted?” Missen continued, saying “The Open Members have no respect for the truth. Like the idea that Sir J had Covid19. That is a lie. He was tested and the result was negative. He has been actively running the Government of New Ireland, fully engaged in bringing programs the people want to the people. Never in over 50 years of politics has he been subject to such unprofessional, slanderous attacks.” “You know, it is funny those two are called ‘Open’ Members; they certainly do not operate in an ‘open’ manner. What is “open” about spreading rumours and lies through social media? They repeat old accusations that have long since been answered, and are anything but ‘open’ when it comes to the use of the funds they receive. I think they should be called the Un-Open Members” The Deputy Governor concluded saying “ Sir J has worked for years to extend a hand of cooperation to the two Open Members, but has been rejected over and over again. Ling-Stuckey accuses him of not taking up his and Walter Schnaubelt’s offer to meet recently. What meeting? Sir J was never invited to meet and was completely unaware of any such offer. This just looks like another attempt on the part of the two Members to criticize and slander Sir J – they seem to prefer to spend their time doing social media rather than for the People of New Ireland.” “Sir J has been consistent for years. We all would love to work with genuinely ‘Open’ Members for the betterment of the People of New Ireland. If they are serious, all they have to do is work together with Sir Julius who is the regional member for ALL New Irelanders.” Speaking in the absence of Governor who is currently travelling the islands of Tanir LLG, Deputy Governor says, “It is blatant dereliction of duty that the two members have NEVER attended JPP & BPC meetings and have missed more than 3 consecutive meetings of the Provincial Assembly. These are the rightful legal forums of governance and it is negligence. But the Un-Open Members do not seem at all interested in representing or helping the People. If they were, they would join and support Sir J and the policies he has developed that have improved the lives of all New Irelanders.” Story and image sourced