West New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea on the islands of New Britain. The provincial capital is Kimbe. The area of the province is 20,387 km2 with a population of 264,264 as of the 2011 census.[2] The province's only land border is with East New Britain. There are seven major tribes, the Nakanai, Bakovi, Kove, Unea, Maleu, Arowe, speaking about 25 languages.
People from West New Britain are referred to as "Kombes" in Papua New Guinea, in metonymic reference to the significant Kove (or Kombe) people. The Kove people were reported on by the anthropologist Ann Chowning in National Geographic magazine during the 1960s. Within Papua New Guinea they are noted for their practice of superincision of the penis — circumcision is generally though inaccurately referred to among Papua New Guineans as "the Kombe cut" — but was formerly practiced in other northern coastal regions of New Guinea island and the New Guinea Islands.
The predominant religious affiliation is Roman Catholic, though there is a sizeable Anglican presence at the extreme western tip of the province and Bishop James Ayong, the retired Anglican prelate of Papua New Guinea, is originally from West New Britain.
West New Britain produces palm oil for export with large oil palm plantations on the north coast of the province especially in the Kimbe region. There are logging activities in the interior and on the south coast. The Walindi dive resort near Kimbe is a tourist destination for visitors to Papua New Guinea.
There are two districts in the province. Each district has one or more Local Level Government (LLG) areas. For census purposes, the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units.[3]
The province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration, headed by a Premier, from 1978 to 1995. Following reforms taking effect that year, the national government reassumed some powers, and the role of Premier was replaced by a position of Governor, to be held by the winner of the province-wide seat in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.[4][5]
The province and each district is represented by a Member of the National Parliament. There is one provincial electorate and each district is an open electorate.
^"Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
^"Papua New Guinea". City Population.de. Thomas Brinkhoff. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
^"National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea". National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
^May, R. J. "8. Decentralisation: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back". State and society in Papua New Guinea: the first twenty-five years. Australian National University. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
^"Provinces". rulers.org. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
April 26, 2024
west, britain, province, west, britain, province, papua, guinea, islands, britain, provincial, capital, kimbe, area, province, with, population, 2011, census, province, only, land, border, with, east, britain, there, seven, major, tribes, nakanai, bakovi, kove. West New Britain is a province of Papua New Guinea on the islands of New Britain The provincial capital is Kimbe The area of the province is 20 387 km2 with a population of 264 264 as of the 2011 census 2 The province s only land border is with East New Britain There are seven major tribes the Nakanai Bakovi Kove Unea Maleu Arowe speaking about 25 languages West New Britain Province Wes Niu Briten Provins Tok Pisin FlagWest New Britain Province in Papua New GuineaCoordinates 5 50 S 150 0 E 5 833 S 150 000 E 5 833 150 000CountryPapua New GuineaFormation1976CapitalKimbeDistrictsList Kandrian Gloucester DistrictTalasea DistrictGovernment GovernorSasindran Muthuvel 2012 Area Total20 387 km2 7 871 sq mi Population 2011 census Total264 264 Density13 km2 34 sq mi Time zoneUTC 10 AEST HDI 2019 0 592 1 medium 6th of 22 People from West New Britain are referred to as Kombes in Papua New Guinea in metonymic reference to the significant Kove or Kombe people The Kove people were reported on by the anthropologist Ann Chowning in National Geographic magazine during the 1960s Within Papua New Guinea they are noted for their practice of superincision of the penis circumcision is generally though inaccurately referred to among Papua New Guineans as the Kombe cut but was formerly practiced in other northern coastal regions of New Guinea island and the New Guinea Islands The predominant religious affiliation is Roman Catholic though there is a sizeable Anglican presence at the extreme western tip of the province and Bishop James Ayong the retired Anglican prelate of Papua New Guinea is originally from West New Britain West New Britain produces palm oil for export with large oil palm plantations on the north coast of the province especially in the Kimbe region There are logging activities in the interior and on the south coast The Walindi dive resort near Kimbe is a tourist destination for visitors to Papua New Guinea Contents 1 Districts and LLGs 2 Provincial leaders 2 1 Premiers 1978 1995 2 2 Governors 1995 present 3 Members of the National Parliament 4 ReferencesDistricts and LLGs editThere are two districts in the province Each district has one or more Local Level Government LLG areas For census purposes the LLG areas are subdivided into wards and those into census units 3 District District Capital LLG Name Kandrian Gloucester District Kandrian Gasmata Rural Gloucester Rural Kandrian Coastal Rural Kandrian Inland Rural Kove Kaliai Rural Talasea District Kimbe Bali Witu Rural Bialla Rural Hoskins Rural Kimbe Urban Mosa Rural Talasea RuralProvincial leaders editThe province was governed by a decentralised provincial administration headed by a Premier from 1978 to 1995 Following reforms taking effect that year the national government reassumed some powers and the role of Premier was replaced by a position of Governor to be held by the winner of the province wide seat in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea 4 5 Premiers 1978 1995 edit Premier Term Bernard Vogae 1978 1987 Joseph Lehen 1987 1988 Robert Lawrence 1988 1993 Bernard Vogae 1993 1995 Governors 1995 present edit Governor Term Lucas Waka 1995 1997 Bernard Vogae 1997 2000 Clement Nakmai 2000 2007 Peter Humphreys 2007 2012 Sasindran Muthuvel 2012 presentMembers of the National Parliament editThe province and each district is represented by a Member of the National Parliament There is one provincial electorate and each district is an open electorate Electorate Member West New Britain Provincial Sasindran Muthuvel Nakanai Open Francis Maneke Kandrian Gloucester Open Joseph Lelang Talasea Open Freddy R KumaiReferences edit Sub national HDI Area Database Global Data Lab hdi globaldatalab org Retrieved 2020 04 18 Papua New Guinea City Population de Thomas Brinkhoff Retrieved 26 June 2012 National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea Retrieved 26 June 2012 May R J 8 Decentralisation Two Steps Forward One Step Back State and society in Papua New Guinea the first twenty five years Australian National University Retrieved 31 March 2017 Provinces rulers org Retrieved 31 March 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West New Britain Province amp oldid 1219725870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,