NEW Ireland Provincial Government (NIPG) has refuted statement made by Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey in respect to the 2023 provincial budget.
Misbil Nelson, Chair Person in-charge of assisting New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan on Finance, said it is not a requirement to have a Governor of a province to present the provincial budget to the country’s treasurer after the budget has been passed during the provincial Assembly meeting.
She said the Acting Administrator Moses Taram, NIP CEO for Finance Richard Andia and herself traveled down to Port Moresby to present the 2023 New Ireland Provincial budget to the Treasurer on Friday, 27th January 2023, however Ling-Stuckey was unavailable.
Nelson said taking overseas trip during that time.
“Ling-Stuckey is playing dirty politics and has continuously delayed the approval of the NIPG budget until the 13th of March, 2023.
“At the end of the day, the people of New Ireland are suffering because of his selfish interest.
“I am always stepping in and assisting the Governor on these matters, otherwise the Provincial Assembly is not subjected to the Minister for Treasury.
“That will be a clash with the Organic Law, because the Provincial Assembly is established by the Organic Law and is not be subjected to one man’s approval,” Nelson said.
