Wednesday 14 February 2024.
Governor Muthuvel presents the West New Britain Provincial Budget to Prime Minister James Marape, witnessed by Kandrian-Gloucester MP Hon. Joseph Lelang. (picture credit: PM’s Media)
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today welcomed the K377 million West New Britain Provincial Budget, stressing its importance as one of the most economically-important provinces of Papua New Guinea.
“This province is one of a few provinces that is growing in its internal revenue,” he said, emphasising the significance of the budget presented by West New Britain Governor, Hon. Sasindran Muthuvel.
The ceremony was witnessed by notable figures including Kandrian-Gloucester MP Hon. Joseph Lelang, Talasea MP Hon. Freddie Kumai, and Provincial Administrator Leo Mapmani.
Praising the efforts of Governor Muthuvel, MP Lelang, MP Kumai, Nakanai MP and Oil Palm Minister Hon. Francis Manake, and the 12 Local Level Governments, Prime Minister Marape highlighted their roles in making the K377,287,700 budget a reality.
The budget, he noted, is a blend of national grants totalling K284 million, internal revenue of K93 million, and an innovative inclusion of K99 million in unspent revenue from 2023.
Designed under the theme ‘Enabling Growth Opportunities’, the budget aims to foster development across the province’s districts, focusing on LLG capacity building, maintenance programmes, district road counterpart funding, infrastructural projects like Amulut and Kokopo Jetties, Kimbe-Kandrian Highway, Kandrian Power Station connectivity and power generation, alongside agriculture extension services.
Prime Minister Marape’s vision for West New Britain is a testament to the emergence of self-reliance within the province, a quality he commended during the announcement.
Moreover, he extended an apology for the delayed completion of the provincial hospital, reassuring the people of West New Britain of the national government’s dedication by allocating K20 million for the hospital in 2024.
“This is a national government focus area and this year we’ve allocated K20 million counterpart funding,” Prime Minister Marape affirmed, marking the hospital’s completion as a top priority for the Health Department and Treasury.