INTRODUCTIONby Stephen P. Pokawin On August 25th 1977, Manus obtained its Interim Provincial Government. Two years later, on 25th August 1979, the first elected Government took Office. During the past 21 years Manus has had six elected Provincial Governments. The term of the current Government started in 1997 and will end in 2002. This Plan coincides with the term of the current Government. In 1980, one year after the first elected Government assumed Office, the Provincial Government engaged the services of the Volunteer Canadian Planners under the Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO). The Team researched, identified and collated broad sectoral development policies. The work was completed in 1982. The outcome formed the basis for budget allocations in 1983 and 1984. The Manus Provincial Government developed its First Five Year Development Plan during the period 1985-1989. The emphasis of the First Plan was on social and infrastructure development. Education, Health and Transport infrastructure attracted funding initially in 1983 and 1984 and subsequently under the First Plan from 1985 to 1989. The Plan focused on social services primarily improvement and expansion of health and education services. Marine and land transport infrastructure development was necessary for the efficient delivery of basic social services. Consequently, over 100 kilometers of roads were improved and built. Wharves and navigational aids were also maintained, built and installed in strategic locations throughout the Province. During the period of the First Plan, the MPG was determined to see three major economic projects off the ground. These were West Coast Forestry, Tuna Fisheries and the Rehabilitation of the run-down plantations in the Province. For these three main projects, the MPG spent close to K½ million. The Tuna fisheries did not take off due to the inconsistent and fatalistic approach to the development of the industry at the national level. The rehabilitation of run-down plantations was not also realized mainly due to the all time low commodity prices at that time. The West Coast Forestry did get off the ground. To date, just over K120 million in FOB value has been earned with the National Government being the major beneficiary of well over K62 million in export duty. The resource owners benefited from royalty payout. A total of 113.4 kilometers of roads have been built linking most villages in the Bisakani Soparibeu, Ndrehet in Kurti Pomotu Ndrehet and the Pobuma Local Level Government areas. The Province's Second Five Year Development Plan began in 1990 and ended in 1994. The Second Plan placed greater emphasis on economic production, while continuing to increase the scope of social services throughout the province. It was during this Plan Period in 1990 that the Manus Provincial Government, based on the direction from the then Premier Stephen P Pokawin, returned to the National Constitution and adopted Integral Human Development - the first of the five National Goals and Directive Principles as the Province's guiding principle of development. The Third Five Year Development Plan from 1995 to 1999 continued on from the Second Plan. The Medium Term Development Plan for the Manus Province covers the period 2000 to 2002 is the Fourth Plan. It is greatly influenced by the environment surrounding the implementation of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local-Level Governments. The Plan is consistent with the directives as agreed to between the National Government and the Provincial Governments under the National Charter for Reconstruction and Development. The Fourth Plan consists of Two Volumes. Volume One sets out the background to the Plan in Chapter One to Chapter Five. And Volume Two details the Programmes and Projects in Chapter Six followed by the Conclusion. As a whole, Chapter One presents the State of the Province setting out the context upon which the Plan is designed. Chapter Two sets out the Province's Integral Human Development Policy (IHD) and the strategy of Basic Minimum Needs (BMN). Chapter Three assesses the performances of Integral Human Development Policy. Chapter Four outlines the broad objectives and strategies of the Plan. Chapter Five lays out the Annual Management Plan. Chapter Six identifies the programmes and projects under each of the basic minimum needs. And Chapter Seven is the Conclusion. The Plan targets a total of 161 projects of varying magnitude. In three years, a total of K55 494 752 is required to implement the Plan. It includes projects identified at both the Provincial Government and Local Level Government levels. The period of the Fourth Plan takes the Province to the end of the term of the current Government. Preparatory work will commence in 2001 through to the first half of 2002 to produce the Fifth Plan in time for the new Government when it takes Office in July 2002. The new Government will finalize the Fifth Plan during the second half of 2002 in time for its first year of implementation in 2003. CHAPTER ONESTATE OF THE PROVINCE1. MANUS IN BRIEFManus Province is an exception to the rule. Out of the country's 20 Provinces, including the National Capital District, Manus stands out to be different. It is a one Province one Open Electorate and thus One District with two Members of Parliament. It has the smallest population of 42 964 people inhabiting a small land mass spread across a very large expanse of water. It has 12 Local Level Governments.
2. PEOPLE
The following Tables 1 to 6 provide information on the people of Manus who are the target of the Plan. The Province's policy of Integral Human Development which drives the Plan focuses on the quality of life of the Manus man, woman and child. 
Table 3, Table 4, Table 5 and Talbe 6 of Vital Statistics continued here.© copyright 2002 Stephen P. Pokawin, Papua New Guinea |
see also
ACRONYMNS - GLOSSARY of Government Departments, Agencies, Programs and Terminology Return to 2002-2002 Plan Table of Contents Return to ManusIsland.com Home Site |
see also
Acronymns - Glossary of Government Departments, Agencies, Programs and Terminology
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