News and Public Notices

Mr. Speaker, I rise today within the chambers of this Honourable House to present my ministerial statement on several important matters that concern the government and people of Bougainville.

Before I proceed I must make several acknowledgements that are of importance. From the National Government, I welcome Hon. Mannaseh Makiba on his first official visit to Bougainville as our Minister for Bougainville Affairs. I thank you for excepting my invitation to visit Bougainville and for the first ever Minister for Bougainville Affairs to attend a session of the Bougainville House of Representatives.  I also extend this acknowledgement to the following national leaders:

• Hon. Saki Saloma – Minister for Energy
• Hon. Dr. Kobby Bomareo – Minister for Housing
• Hon. Lohia Boe Samuel – Member for Moresby North West Open
• Hon. Richard Masere – Member for Popondetta Open
• Hon. Dr. Billy Joseph – Member for Nipa Kutubu Open
• Hon. William Bando – Member for Koroba-Lake Kopiago Open
• Hon. David Arore – Member for Ijivitari Open
• Hon. Lucas Dekena – Member for Gumine Open

On behalf of my government and my people, I warmly welcome you all to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. I look forward to meeting you all and I hope your brief time with us will allow you to gain a better insight of Bougainville and our people.

Mr. Speaker, let me also welcome our new Members of the Bougainville House of Representatives. Hon. Patrick Koles Member for Haku and Hon. Didymus Napto Kiso Member for Nissan. Hon. Patrick Koles you bring with you experience from your work in the public service and development sector. Hon. Didymus Napto Kiso you are a young leader chosen by your people to fulfill your father’s legacy in leading the people of Nissan Island.

Mr. Speaker, this year is a very important year for the government and people of Bougainville as we prepare for the Ratification of the 2019 Bougainville Referendum Results by the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. The Bougainville Peace Agreement of 2001 and Part XIV (16) of the National Constitution, is very clear on the parameters of this political process. Following a referendum, the two governments shall consult over the result of the referendum. We have consulted over the result of 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans who want Independence and now we anticipate the National Government’s commitment to ratifying the results this year.

There have been three Post Referendum Jointed Consultations between the ABG and the National Government. The consultations have yielded several positive outcomes. Key amongst them are the Wabag Road Map and the Era Kone Covenant which have set a timeline for our political settlement (not before 2025 and no later than 2027) to independence and set out the parameters that requires both governments to fulfill to ensure the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement. I expect the National Government will honour these agreements and table the outcome of the consultations in the National Parliament this year ahead of the ratification as is consistent with the terms of the Wabag Road Map that we jointly agreed to.

The process of Ratifying the Bougainville referendum results is currently being deliberated by the technical teams of both governments. According to advice from the Solicitor General, the referendum is a merely an endorsement of the results by the National Parliament. The technical teams must take this advice seriously and not to waste time debating on semantics and legalities that are not consistent with the legal framework of the Bougainville Peace Process. This is an issue that is bound by history, conflict and more importantly the right of a people to self-determination and that is the only way it should be viewed.

Mr. Speaker, in the mean time internal preparations for our Independence Readiness Mission must continue. Members of this honourable house, I expect you all to institute changes within our communities by innovative means to improving the lives of our people through positive socio-economic development. We have to see greater collaboration between the government and our community governments to mobilise our people and to inspire them to be industrious and hardworking.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot deny that we have capacity issues in the ABG due to lack of funding and resources. However, this does not stop us from using what is within our means to achieve a tangible outcome. We have a resilient people who are our greatest resource. It is time we put more trust in developing our capacity by empowering local businesses, supporting SME’s and promoting education as a key factor in developing our mindset and our human resource. We have proved our resilience during hardships as a people. That same resilience must manifest through our leadership as the legitimate government of the people of Bougainville. Each of us is charged with empowering our people to be active in the development process on Bougainville.

Mr. Speaker, in my last parliamentary address last year I highlighted several economic development projects in the agriculture, forestry and mining industries that the government is embarking on. These are projects that are focused on developing local economies and maximising internal revenue for the government. Most of these projects are about 90 percent complete and should be operational within the year. Revenue generation from these projects will enable Bougainville to be fiscally self-reliant and provide employment opportunities for our people. These projects were delayed to ensure compliance but they are well on their way to the production stage.

As President it is my intention to protect the rights of our people and our indigenous business. The first step in doing that is by investing in local companies who are committed and have shown initiative to supporting the government’s efforts in developing Bougainville. In large scale economic development any investment through foreign direct investment must always be in favour of our people. The benefit sharing arrangement must allow the people through the government to own up to fifty percent of the investment. The Bougainville Inward Investment Act serves as the guiding legislation to ensure investors and even our own people comply with the government’s policies on foreign direct investments.

Mr. Speaker, so many investors have shown interest in Bougainville but we have a vetting process that every one of them comply to. Investors have shown keen interest in the agriculture, tourism and extractive industries. However, as I like to say all roads lead to Panguna when it comes to investment discussing economic investment opportunities on Bougainville.

Mr. Speaker, my government’s current policy on Panguna is to let the landowners resolve their differences with minimal influence from outside. The government has been facilitating their negotiations and one important point that the land owners mutually agree on is for a locally owned entity to develop the mine should it reopen. At this crucial time, I want to warn so called investors and landowners to refrain from meddling in the hard work this Government and the Panguna landowners have put into the mining consultations.

On the subject of Panguna, the Panguna Legacy Impact Assessment has been progressing very well. I have received very positive feedback from the local communities along the lower tailings area all the way up to the Special Mining Lease Areas. This assessment will enable the government to quantify the extent of damages caused by the mine during its operations and even after its closure more than thirty years later.

• Final phase of the sealing of the John Teosin Highway.
• Continued upgrade and maintenance of the Kukul to Kohiso Road to complete the Buka Ring Road and prepare for sealing.
• Installation of Desalination Units and Micro Power Grids for the outer islands.
• Construction of Pangara and Tawera Bridges in Bana District.
• Construction of the Kihili Teacher’s College
• Upgrade of the Arawa Hospital to Provincial Level
• Upgrade of the Arawa School of Nursing
• Upgrade and maintenance of feeder roads in cocoa intensive areas in each region

The rationale behind these important infrastructure projects is to enable socioeconomic development that is home grown. Emphasis is on creating local human resource, providing them with employment and broadening the scope of economic opportunities on Bougainville through infrastructure development. 

All funding from the National Government are put into development projects. The ABG’s operates only from the Recurrent Grant and our internal revenue. 

Mr. Speaker, Bougainville is still visibly reliant on funding from the National Government primarily the Recurrent and Restoration and Development Grants which are Constitutionally guaranteed grants for Bougainville. These grants do not often arrive on time on Bougainville and often cause delays in the rollout of our development programs but I do not blame the National Government for the delays. I understand the financial constraints that the National Government is going through and I believe this is the motivation that the Autonomous Bougainville Government must use to raise more internal revenue to sustain ourselves instead of depending entirely on the National Government.

Mr. Speaker, this year I directed the Bougainville Administration to focus on promoting and improving our economic growth and improve law and order throughout Bougainville. These two priorities must be taken seriously by the administration and our economic sector departments primarily the Law and Justice Sector, the Department of Mining and Energy Resources, the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Finance and Treasury.

As I mentioned early this year during my address to the Administration we have to realize that law and order and economic growth are interrelated. Our economy cannot flourish without the stability brought about by enforcing law and order. This creates a conducive environment for our economy to grow. In the same manner law and order can only be enforced effectively if there is economic growth that earns revenue for the government to provide more funding to improve law and order. 

Mr. Speaker I want to reassure the Members of this Honourable House that the Bougainville Police Services has begun its operations to clamp down on the current spike in lawlessness on Bougainville. There have been several developments in the last two months in outstanding cases with the apprehension of certain persons of interest. The Konnou Conflict in South Bougainville is another matter that needs the attention of the Government. We have a special committee who are going to deal with the matter. If certain leaders choose to ignore my government’s attempt at resolving this matter, then you have clearly shown you true colours and exiled yourself from your own people.

Mr. Speaker, in 2025 Papua New Guinea will celebrate fifty years as an independent sovereign nation. It will also commence the two-year timeframe for Bougainville’s political settlement as indicated by the Wabag Roadmap. As the country prepares to celebrate its Golden Jubilee it must also consider Bougainville’s long standing aspirations on self-determination that even predates the country’s independence. The eleventh Parliament of Papua New Guinea has the opportunity and privilege to resolving this matter which is as old as the country itself.

Mr. Speaker, in welcoming Minister Makiba and his fellow Ministers and Members of the National Government to Bougainville I must thank the Prime Minister Hon. James Marape for his commitment to the government and people of Bougainville. Despite our difference in opinion we maintain cordial relations and we understand our positions in true Melanesian fashion.

My conscience and resolve are clear, this government and our people will never compromise on anything short of political independence for Bougainville. History attests to Bougainville’s demands for sovereignty so it is rightfully ours to claim.

God Bless Bougainville and Papua New Guinea.

 

Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MHR

President

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