Papua New Guinea will add two new provinces by 2012

Several of the provincial governments in Papua New Guinea have announced changes to the names of their provinces, with Bougainville becoming North Solomons, Western becoming Fly River, Chimbu becoming Simbu, Northern becoming Oro and West Sepik becoming Sandaun.

The changes have been accorded popular acceptance but they remain unofficial, as the provinces are creatures of the Constitution and official changes of name would require amendments to the Constitution using the prescribed amending formula.

Map of Papua New Guinea showing Southern Highlands Province (15) and Western Highlands Province (17), where Hela and Jiwaka derive from respectively will be declared provinces by 2012

By 2012, two new provinces will emerge: Hela Province will be split from Southern Highlands Province, and Jiwaka Province from Western Highlands Province. Well, congratulations to the people in these areas. They will finally have their own provinces and manage their own affairs at the provincial level.

It is imperative that all formal mechanisms are in place in order to cater for the provinces' status before 2012. Just the naming of the provinces without concrete proposals doesn't make any sense.

Again, congratulations are in order to people in these areas and make sure help in whatever capacity you can with the legislators to meet the requirements before 2012.

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