Presidential Address at the conclusion of the ABG Leaders Symposium 2024
On 29 November 2020, I made my maiden address to the House of Representatives and the People of the Bougainville. On that Occasion, I adopted a Six Point Strategy to be implemented by the Toroama-Nisira Government.
Following my maiden speech, the 4th House of Representatives Cabinet passed a decision to establish the Bougainville Strategic Research and Planning Secretariat which is now headed by Dr Ahai Naihuwo, and other Bougainvillean experts who have provided support to the crafting of the Vision 2052 which was cascaded into the 6 MTDPs launched on 03 October 2023 at Toniva.
The BSRPS was closely supported by the Office of Chief Secretary, other Departments, the ABG Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination Directorate and the National Planning Department. I thank the former Chief Secretary Mr Shadrach Himata for his leadership in concluding the two plans and I congratulate the Bougainville Public Service under the leadership of Chief Secretary Mr Kearnneth Nanei for launching the 14x Department Corporate Plans on 16 October this year in Buka.
On eve of the 5th Bougainville House of Representatives Parliamentary Election in 2025, it is my pleasure to appreciate all the Ministers in preparing and delivering their respective Ministerial presentations since the evening of Sunday 1st December until today.
Let me also acknowledge (even though I was not here during the opening ceremony) the presence of and presentations by Honourable Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, Minister for Internal Security and Regional Member for Bougainville and Honourable Timothy Masiu, Minister for Information, Communication and Technology and Member for South Bougainville and I look forward to a unified effort in our Independence Readiness Program.
I stand here proud that with your support as Bougainvillean Leaders, we have delivered the Fourth Pillar of the Toroama-Nisira Government Six Point Strategy which is the Bougainville Vision 2052 and the first Medium Term Development Plan (2023-2027), with the overall Vision that “By 2052, Bougainville will be a High Income, educated, healthy and peaceful sovereign nation”.
Our first MTDP for 2023-2027 focuses on the mission “Advancing Self-Reliance, Sustainability and Independence Readiness”.
For far too long Bougainville has been operating on a restorative mode. As leaders, we are now called to deliver on State building and Nation building to achieve political Independence for Bougainville no earlier than 2025 and no later than 2027.This call demands our greatest commitment, cooperation and collaboration to deliver on the aspirations of our people which has been determined by our long historical struggle and never – ending determination for Independence.
I want to assure us confidence, that during our term in Office, the Toroama-Nisira Government has delivered milestone Agreements that had built on from the foundation set by the Bougainville Peace Agreement 2001.
These Agreements include the Wabag Post Referendum Implementation Roadmap 2021-2027, Sharpe Agreement 2021, and Era Kone Covenant 2022, that all guide the Independence Readiness Program spearheaded under our leadership.
Two weeks ago, on 22nd November in Waigani, through the Melanesian Spirit of Dialogue and ‘Toktok Bung Wantem’ as articulated in the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the Joint Supervisory Body endorsed the Terms of Reference for the Moderator Sir Jerry Mateparae. Sir Mateparae is no stranger to Bougainville. He has played a key role during the peace in the 1990s by helping to restore peace on Bougainville on his engagement through the supported that was provided by the New Zealand Government under the Peace Monitoring Group.
We are privileged to have Sir Mateparae in Bougainville once more, now as the moderator. Sir Mateparae has commenced his worked and from 25-28 November 2024, most Bougainvilleans have had the opportunity to tell Sir Mateparae about what they had to say about the ratification process that is under consultation between the National Government and the ABG, and on the wider issue of Bougainville's wish for independence.
In my statement at the recent JSB held on the Friday 22 November 2024, I maintained that our position on political settlement is nothing less than granting Full Independence to Bougainville.
In my speech in the recent JSB of 22 November 2024, I affirmed the ABG’s position that we will not settle for any other political settlement other than independence from Papua New Guinea.
Let me now take time to reflect on the Six Point Strategy implemented between 2020-2024:
Firstly, we focused on Political Control: Independence is the ultimate aim of this political leadership, to ensure control of the society so citizens can become law abiding citizens.
In 2020, there were many young leaders who were elected into the 4th House of Representatives with the hope of change in the way governance systems and processes can be transformed.
To achieve this, open communication with our people is key in reaching a common understanding.
This was the process that we followed, in ensuring an open and consultative process across Bougainville in the development of the new Bougainville Constitution to be tabled to our Constituent Assembly, whilst we pursue the ratification of the 97.7% referendum result.
We welcome the collaboration between the Constituency Members and Community Government Chairs and hereby endorse the proposal for an integrated Constituency Development Priorities Committee to be co-chaired by both leaders for resource allocation as we progress with our Independence Readiness Program.
The Bougainville Public Service sectoral committees under Chief Secretary are hereby directed to support the policy shift to empower our rural majority through the Constituency Development Priorities Committees.
Secondly, Economic Growth is still a work in progress as we continue to build the foundation through the sector. Whilst on that note, let me acknowledge Vice – President and Minister for Commerce, Trade and Economic Development your milestone achievement in launching of the Bougainville Economic Roadmap.
I hereby direct the Economic Sector Ministers with the support of all Community Governments to generate internal revenue collection through taxation and non-tax regime.
We must put a stop to leakages in our internal revenue system and strive to achieve the K500million benchmark threshold by 2027. We can do it better together as a team.
Thirdly, we embrace Administrative Control: Through direct intervention by the Ministry of Public Service and the Office of the Chief Secretary, with support of our Development Partner the Australian Government, we have confirmed most Heads of Department which I am confident will bring stability in supporting the implementation of the Government sectoral directives.
Fourthly, we embrace openness to Mobilisation of the Private Sector Development and Non-Government Organisation: We believe that private sector development growth is key to economic development.
Fifthly, we embarked on Medium to Long Term Planning, and as I have mentioned earlier, we now have a Vision 2052 and first MTDP 2023-2027 that now integrates the Toroama-Nisira Government Six Point Strategy.
I encourage all leaders at the National, Regional, Constituency, Community government and Ward level to embrace the Vision 2052 and successive MTDPs to build a High-Income Bougainville that is educated, healthy, peaceful and sovereign”.
Finally, the Sixth Point of Strategy on International Relations: The Toroama-Nisira Government embraces the universal approach of “Friends to all and Enemies to None”. We are open to the East and West international friends and willing to go further in securing both bilateral and multilateral strategic economic development partnerships that will ensure mutual benefit for us and our international friends.
Much more importantly, we believe that in order to achieve the desired vision for Bougainville, we need to set our development priorities to establish the economic enablers first, like roads, bridges, electricity, communication, water sewerage system, and public utilities etc.
At the same time, whilst I appreciate the efforts by the Australian Government through the Transport Sector Support Program, other Development partners will be invited to support Bougainville reconstruct its economy through key enabling infrastructure.
I hereby endorse the Ministerial sector presentations that form your five (5) years reports as the basis for the Toroama-Nisira Government Six Point Strategy Implementation.
To conclude, in the 2020 Presidential Election, my campaign was founded on three key platforms: Independence, Fight Against Corruption, and Law and Order.
I now maintain this fight, not only as your President, but as the Freedom Fighter that you have known until the day we get our flag raised on the Independence Day of the newest nation on planet Earth to be known as Bougainville.
At the same time, I invite you all to stand with me against Corruption. Bougainville has the opportunity to mainstream good governance into all public systems and processes and look after the welfare of its public servants to ensure zero incentive and tolerance for corruption.
Likewise, we will continue to advocate for the Bougainville Way to be embedded in our legislations and policies. The Bougainville Way sets the parameters for outsiders to respectfully conduct themselves in our society by observing natural order, our Customs, Christian Principles and relationship with land, environment, culture and marine resources. The above parameters are the guiding principles for the Bougainville Way.
Much more importantly, let us embrace the overwhelming and internationally recognized 2019 97.7 per cent Referendum vote for Independence to affirm our desire and aspiration as the most profound and supreme revelation to become an Independent Nation.
Finally, I thank the National Government and ABG leaders, Chief Secretary, Heads of Department, representative from Development Partners, and ABG Public Servants in hosting the 3rd ABG Leadership Symposium here in Arawa, Central Bougainville.
It is now my privilege as President to accept the Resolutions as reached by the Leaders and hereby declare that the ABG Leadership Symposium 2024 is now officially closed.
Hon. Ishmael Toroama MHR
President, Autonomous Bougainville Government
[ Back to News ]
