Response to Chief John L Momis, GCL, former President of Bougainville
It is disappointing to see a leader of John Momis’ stature, a former two term President of Bougainville and longtime Regional Member for Bougainville trying to undermine the good work of the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
John Momis led Bougainville’s politics for 47 years until 2020. Yet during much of that time, Bougainville struggled to translate its political aspirations into tangible economic and social progress. Longevity in politics may bring prestige, but it does not automatically deliver results.
During his ten-year presidency, Bougainville witnessed a familiar pattern, frequent complaints directed at the National Government for funding and a succession of ambitious foreign investment proposals that promised transformation but delivered little beyond expensive lessons. Bougainville’s people were left to absorb the cost of several failed economic experiments involving overseas partners who appeared enthusiastic at the beginning and invisible at the end.
While I acknowledge John Momis as one of Bougainville’s and Papua New Guinea’s most distinguished statesmen, political seniority is not the same as economic authority, nor does it grant permanent ownership over Bougainville’s future.
One of the persistent problems of the past was the tendency to place greater faith in foreign advice while sidelining the knowledge and capacity of Bougainvilleans themselves. That approach left Bougainville politically vocal but economically stagnant.
Over the past five years, my government has deliberately taken a different path.
Instead of grand announcements and endless negotiations that lead nowhere, we have focused on building the foundations of a functioning economy. We have invested in strengthening local capacity, improving policy frameworks, expanding infrastructure, and advancing our political preparations for independence.
The progress is visible. Improvements in our hospitals, our schools, and our transport infrastructure are not theoretical they are happening on the ground. And this progress will accelerate as we responsibly advance the reopening of the Panguna Mine, a project central to Bougainville’s long-term economic future.
I have neither the time nor the interest to engage in prolonged exchanges with former politicians who appear unwilling to accept that Bougainville has moved into a new era of leadership. Political retirement, like political power, is something that must eventually be accepted with dignity.
In the past five years, my presidency has not been spent begging the National Government for money. Instead, we have begun positioning Bougainville to generate its own revenue through strategic partnerships with credible investors, including companies such as Lloyds Metals and other development partners who are prepared to work with Bougainville seriously and responsibly.
To the people of Bougainville, last year you decided overwhelmingly to retain me as your President. You asked us to continue the work of building Bougainville’s future and that is exactly what we will do.
I am here to serve you and together we will build our hospitals, our schools, our road infrastructure. We are going to create a strong economy that is sound and induce social and political stability for Bougainville.
Our goal remains unchanged, to create a strong, stable, and economically viable Bougainville ready to stand as an independent sovereign state.
H.E Ishmael Toroama, MHR
President of Bougainville
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