News and Public Notices

The Autonomous Bougainville Government launched the Bougainville Anti-Drug Education and Awareness Campaign yesterday in Aita, Wakunai District, Central Bougainville.

The campaign is an initiative of Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama to address the rise of social problems attributed to the cultivation and consumption of marijuana on Bougainville.

“This is the very first step our government is taking to combat the issue of drug trafficking and consumption on Bougainville,” President Toroama said.

“We cannot deny the fact that we have a young generation who have become recreational users of marijuana and home-brewed alcohol that fall prey to being addicts in the future,” President Toroama said.

“As we prepare for Bougainville’s Independence we must make sure our people are healthy, sound of mind and able to use their full potential as resourceful and responsible citizens of Bougainville,” President Toroama said.

“Our people in Aita and the rest of Bougainville should not be making excuses on profiting from illicit activities. We have the potential for so much more with an abundance of resources that we can make a good living from,” President Toroama stated.

“I encourage our people especially in and around Wakunai, which is the central most part of Bougainville, to start being responsible and to take ownership of this campaign program,” President Toroama said.

The President also pledged the government’s support to the campaign through the Department of Law and Justice through a customary ritual by presenting pigs and food stuff to the people of Aita and their Community Government.

Aita is well renowned as the central hub for marijuana cultivation and trafficking that supplies the rest of Bougainville.

The campaign will focus on alleviating the increasing use and trafficking of illicit drugs, especially marijuana in Bougainville communities by awareness and enforcement by all stakeholders of the law and justice sector.

Present at the launching was the Bougainville Minister for Police and Correctional Services, Bougainville Secretary for Law and Justice Kearneth Nanei, Senior Provincial Magistrate Bruce Tasikul and the National Chief Censorship Office representative.

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