BCPC begins consultations with Bougainvilleans outside of Bougainville
The Bougainville Constitutional Planning Commission (BCPC) has begun consultations with Bougainvilleans outside Bougainville over the Easter long weekend.
The consultation is to gauge views and contribution of Bougainvilleans to draft an autochthonous or home grown constitution for an independent nation to be following the referendum held in 2019 which resulted in 97.7% of Bougainvilleans voting for separate independence from Papua New Guinea.
Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama, who is also the Chair of the Constitutional Planning Commission says the Commission will ensure that Bougainvilleans living outside of Bougainville are given the chance to participate in developing Bougainville’s Independent Constitution.
“It is my intention that as widely as practicable, citizens of Bougainville within and outside of Bougainville be given the opportunity to be part of the decision making process on the establishment of our Independent Constitution,” Toroama said.
BCPC had completed the consultation with Bougainvilleans inside Bougainville in March this year and will be visiting nine selected provinces within the four regions of Papua New Guinea starting from the New Guinea Islands, Momase, Highlands and Southern Region this month.
Consultations in the New Guinea Islands region began over the long Easter weekend led by the Attorney General and Minister for Bougainville Independence Mission, who is also the Deputy Chairman of BCPC Hon. Ezekiel Masatt and Vice President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Hon. Patrick Nisira accompanied by a team of commissioners and technical staff.
NGI consultations will cover East and West New Britain provinces and Bougainvilleans in these provinces are invited to attend the consultations to give their contributions for the drafting of a new constitution.
Momase consultations will begin later this week at East Sepik Province and onto Morobe Province by next week.
President Toroama who is also the Chairman of the BCPC, will be part of the consultations in Wewak, whilst the Vice President Hon. Patrick Nisira and Attorney General Hon. Ezekiel Masatt will accompany the Commissioners to the Morobe Province.
Highlands Region consultation will begin next covering Eastern and Western Highlands provinces and Southern Region will also start next week in Western Province, National Capital District and Milne Bay Provinces.
Bougainvilleans living in these provinces are urged to attend the consultations when the BCPC team visits the provinces.
BCPC is a constitutional office approved and endorsed by the Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) in 2022 and has 40 commissioners as members in which President Hon. Ishmael Toroama is the Chairman of the BCPC, Vice President Hon. Patrick Nisira is the Alternate Chairman and Hon, Ezekiel Masatt is the Deputy Chairman of the BCPC.
The BCPC is supported by a Secretariat with representation from the ABG Department of Justice and Legal Service, Department of Bougainville Independence Mission, Bougainville Parliamentary Services and ABG Directorate of Media and Communications.
More information on the BCPC can be found on the ABG website https://www.abg.gov.pg/index.php/government/departments/independence-mission
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