A former Papua New Guinea governor-general, Sir Paulias Matane, has called on the new government to consider the cry for autonomy from East New Britain province.
The newspaper, The National, reports Sir Paulias as saying the province has been calling for this for a very long time and wants it to happen as soon as possible.
Sir Paulias says East New Britain is capable of looking after its own affairs.
He has urged intellectuals from the province who are now unemployed and living in other provinces or abroad to return to East New Britain to contribute to its development in preparation for autonomy.
