News and Public Notices

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give an update on the recent Post Referendum Joint Consultations and the Joint Supervisory Body Meeting with the National Government that transpired last week on the 9th and 10th of December in Port Moresby.

From the outset I must thank our political leaders, our eminent persons from our Consultation Team, and our Acting Chief Secretary with our technical team. I must also make special mention of the Attorney General Hon. Ezekiel Masatt and the Bougainville Independence Mission Advisory Team (BIMAT) for their advice and guidance to our team.

I also acknowledge the people of Bougainville for their prayers and support to the ABG. The issue of independence remains the greatest unifying factor for our people and government. It is a journey that we must all walk together and accomplish together.

Mr. Speaker, the resolve of our people for an independent Bougainville was presented to the Prime Minister Hon. James Marape and the National Government in no uncertain terms. I made it clear that it was time to let our people go to be free as an independent sovereign nation. We have taken the “consultation avenue” as far as we can. The timing is now right to address “head on” the long historical issue of independence as expressed in the 97.7 percent by Bougainvilleans through the Referendum Result.

Our position was presented with facts and the historical context justifying the reasons why our people have so long yearned for independence from Papua New Guinea. I made it known that our reasons for calling for independence is unique only to Bougainville and this sets us apart from the rest of the country. In the last fifty years our calls for self-determination have been ignored and we have had to concede to the political will of foreign powers. At the expense of the people of Bougainville we have had our rights suppressed through the exploitation of our resources, we had a war waged on our people and we are still experiencing political and economic sanctions by the Government of Papua New Guinea despite the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the autonomous arrangements.

Our message was clear; it is time to let the people of Bougainville to be free.

Mr. Speaker, progress at the Joint Supervisory Body Meetings still continues to be impeded by bureaucratic red tape. Despite the numerous resolutions passed by both governments at the JSB meetings, we are still trying to resolve perennial matters that have been in limbo for as long as the existence of the Autonomous Bougainville Government. I informed the Prime Minister that I was disappointed at the complacency and delays in fast tracking these matters such as the;

• Outstanding Restoration and Development Grant.
• Fisheries Revenue from Bougainville Waters.
• Draw down of powers and functions.
• Slow implementation of the Sharp Agreement.
• Bougainville Copper Limited Shares, and
• Tax remittance to the ABG.

ABG’s inability to exploit the full potential of its autonomy arrangement has created a scenario where Bougainville continues to remain dependent on the National Government. This dependency syndrome induced has rendered autonomy virtually impotent on Bougainville. While this is intentional or not, it questions the commitment of the National Government to implementing the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

During the JSB Meeting I stated that if the National Government cannot fast track the progress of the JSB matters then it must allow the ABG to start building our socio-economic and political capacities. I reminded them that they owe the people of Bougainville to empower them through development and supporting the ABG so that the people can realize their felt needs and aspirations

Mr. Speaker, from the two meetings the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the National Government have resolved that both governments;

• Agree to honoring the Joint Statements of the Kokopo and Wabag Consultations.
• Recognize the Joint Post Referendum Roadmap as the way forward for Bougainville’s political future.
• Agree to an appropriate framework that details the mechanism that allows the National Parliament to ratify the referendum results.
• Continue working within the spirit of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
• Technical teams from both governments to work together to immediately resolve outstanding matters at the JSB at the administrative level.

I must express my gratitude to the Prime Minister Hon. James Marape for his commitment to the Bougainville Process. Despite our differences in opinion on Bougainville’s political future we are both in agreement to continue implementing the Bougainville Peace Agreement in equal partnership and friendship.

Mr. Speaker, since September of this year this government has entered its second year in office. In the last 15 months we have made a lot of progress with the Bougainville Independence Mission at the political level. However, the progress of our Independence Mission must be complemented by the progress at the social and economic levels.

Mr. Speaker, the Wabag Roadmap and the timeline for Bougainville’s political settlement (not before 2025 and no later than 2027) calls for a whole of government approach to our independence readiness. The timeline demands that we have a viable economy that is robust and ready to support our development needs. It demands that our government institutions are capable of implementing government directives to provide efficient service delivery and development for our people. It demands that we have a government that promotes democracy, transparency and accountability. Above all, peace and good order must prevail throughout Bougainville.

There is still much work that has to be done to ensure our government effectively delivers services to our people in the development and economic sectors. Infrastructure development in the health, transport and education sectors are still very much a focal point for our government but economic growth must also be embraced as a priority of this government.

Mr. Speaker, the Economic Baseline Survey Report that was launched by the Prime Minister and I last week gives us a clear indication of how we must drive the economic sector on Bougainville from the micro to macro-economic levels. The report covered Bougainville extensively to capture our priority areas for investment and development. From the report we can better plan for economic growth that reflects our people’s needs.

The government already has several high impact projects currently underway and we are open to all forms of investment opportunities that is credible and can meaningfully contribute to Bougainville’s economic growth and development.

Mr. Speaker, the Bougainville Administration must also pick up the pace to support the government’s efforts. We have a small public service that can be easily managed and be effective. However, we are still faced with individuals who assume to be a law unto themselves. They have shown total disregard for government directives and continue to act in a manner that is contrary to our Public Service Management Act.

I have warned against the misuse of the government’s time where we are paying people who do not commit themselves to their work. I have warned against the misuse of government assets including vehicles and residences but people have continued to ignore these warnings. My government will no longer tolerate complacency and corruptive practices in the Bougainville Public Service. I have given the administration ample time to institute reforms but I see that people continue to resist change and move away from their comfort zones. Heads of Depts should take note that the time has come for change in the public service.

Our new Minister for Public Service Hon. Joseph Mona is tasked with instituting changes within our public service to eradicate corruption and improve its efficiency. For far too long our public service has relied on the poor excuse that Bougainville is a special case, the time for excuses is long gone. The independence agenda now demands us to make practical decisions that are in the best interest of our people.

Mr. Speaker, we are now three months into the second year of the fourth Bougainville House of Representatives. Under my Six Point Strategy we have realigned many priorities of this government. We have already asserted Political Control with the current conversations with the National Government. Administrative Control is currently assessed and will be rolled out soon, Economic Growth and Control has been progressing slowly but surely along with the other three points of the government’s strategy on revitalizing Bougainville.

Mr. Speaker, as a way forward we have produced a Blue Print for the implementation of the Sharp Agreement. This will enable the government to easily chart a course for drawing down more powers and functions to the ABG from the National Government through the agreement. While we dispense with the prior requirements of drawing down powers, we need a plan to build capacity to receive these powers so that they can be executed by our respective government departments. The Blue Print will map out our course in this endeavor.

Through the Sharp Agreement, we can empower our government departments to legislate and exercise their authorities for policy development and service delivery. The agreement will greatly benefit the ABG’s capacity to operationalize its autonomous arrangements through its sectoral departments.

Mr. Speaker, I am also glad to note that we will be establishing the Bougainville Constitutional Planning Committee early next year. The CPC will be responsible for drafting the Constitution for the future Independent State of Bougainville. This effort will require the support of this honorable house to engage in discourse and assisting the CPC carryout its duties to formulate our new constitution.

I must stress yet again that the Wabag Roadmap and the Timeline puts us on the threshold of our aspirations to become an independent sovereign nation. This automatically charts our way forward and that is attaining political independence for Bougainville. I therefore urge you all that we must never shy away from the challenges that will come our way nor should we compromise our resolve. We all share a deep appreciation of the facts behind our call for independence. It is one agenda that rallies our people and this government in union. So, I ask every member of this honorable house to continue to support our government through constructive ideas and discourse to achieve our ultimate political goal.

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to deliberate on the ABG’s 2022 Budget I must comment on its priorities. This budget is aimed at empowering our community governments through infrastructure development and strengthening economic growth. This emphasis shares a correlation to economic and political independence through the Bougainville Independence Mission.

The Minister for Finance, Hon. Mathias Salas will be presenting the 2022 Budget later for us to discuss.

Mr. Speaker, at this juncture I would like to congratulate the new Member for the Atolls Constituency, Hon. Taehu Pais. The government is well aware of the issues of climate change and transportation problems associated with the sea-locked atolls. With the election of Hon. Pais we can begin to address these issues.

Mr. Speaker we are at the year’s end. It is Christmas, a time we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also a time for us to reflect and renew our lives as we observe the spirit of Christmas. We must celebrate the holy festive season in the knowledge that our journey to independence is on the right track.

Mr. Speaker, Members of this Honorable House, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2022.

Mr. Speaker, at this juncture I would like to table in this honorable house my two speeches at the JSB and Consultations. I am also tabling the Joint Statement from the third Joint Consultations.

I would like to note that due to timing constraints we were not able to sign the Resolutions of the JSB Meeting. However, the resolutions will be signed in due course and distributed to the Members of the House.

God Bless you all and God Bless Bougainville.

Mr. Speaker, I commend this statement to the House.

 

Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MHR

President

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