East New Britain Province
East New Britain Province, highlighted in blue
The people of East New Britain are very friendly and can get on well with not only other people from other areas of PNG, but also with people from other countries. Few reasons why East New Britain is one of the five top provinces in Papua New Guinea is because of its:
- Rich, diverse and unique tourism products catering for different needs of tourists,
- Friendly people,
- The new domestic airport with modern navigational aid at Tokua,
- Good road system, particularly in the Gazelle Peninsula,
- Law and order is not a major problem,
- Rabaul Wharf is deep enough to accommodate large cruise ships,
- Sea water of East New Britain is cleaner and warmer which have ample pristine marine resources for diving.
GOVERNMENT:
The government system in East New Britain Province is managed and run by a provincial Government and its parliamentary members are elected through a Parliamentary Democracy process.
East New Britain Provincial Flag
PROVINCIAL HEADQUARTERS:
Formally the province headquarter was in Rabaul but now is in Kokopo since the twin volcanic eruptions in September 1994.
DISTRICTS:
East New Britain Province has four (4) districts:
1. Rabaul
2. Kokopo
3. Gazelle
4. Pomio
NATIONAL CURRENCY:
Modern Papua New Guinea currency is made up of Kina and Toea. A one Kina [K1.00] is made up 100 Toea.
Both Kina and Toea are named after traditional shell-money which is forms of wealth in the Province. In East New Britain the Tolai people of the Gazelle Peninsula uses ‘Tabu’. It is a form of wealth in the Tolai society. Local people uses tabu at the local markets, buying fruits and vegetables but is widely used as form of payment in bride price and death ceremonies. Tabu is also used to settle disputes between and among Tolai people.
Pomio people use Miss and Kagal shells as traditional shell money. Baining people have no traditional shell money.
LANGUAGES:
English is used as the official language in schools, government, commerce and trade and diplomacy.
Melanesian Pidgin or Tok Pisin is the most common language spoken by the majority of people in the province.
Kuanua is the other most common local language spoken by the Tolai people of the Gazelle Peninsula.
There are Eighteen (18) languages speaking group in East New Britain Province.
POPULATION:
East New Britain Province has a population of about 230,000; majority of people occupies the Gazelle Peninsula area of the island.
LAND AREA:
The island province has a land area of about 15,500 Square Kilometers excluding the Solomon & Bismarck seas surrounding the island.
LAND USE:
Cash crops like cocoa, coconut, coffee, timber products such as balsa and edible garden food crops are widely used around the province.
PRINCIPAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES:
The economic livelihoods of most East New Britain Province dwellers are based on agriculture exports. Mainly cocoa and copra are widely established around the island from large plantation to subsistence farming communities particularly in Rabaul, Kokopo and the Gazelle Districts.
RIVERS:
Warongoi River is the largest river in the Gazelle Peninsula. Kerevat is another large river in the Gazelle Peninsula.
MAIN HARBOUR:
The Simpson Harbor in Rabaul town is quite deep and is one of the best harbors in the Pacific region. It serves as the main port in the New Guinea Islands and also accommodates large cruise ships. Eight cruise ships on average visit Rabaul every year.