NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

Land Bank impresses Bougainville Delegation
Source JetNews

The introduction of a land bank system in Fiji has impressed a visiting delegation from the Autonomous Government of Bougainville.

The delegation is in the country to study Fiji's structure of land lease and other economic related movement.

Delegation head and Minister for Information for the ABG region Joseph Nope says they will try to implement a similar system
back in their region.

"We are really impressed with the land bank system that has been introduced by the Fijian Government," he said.

The delegation has been visiting government departments and agencies to learn from Fiji before they return home.

Prime Minister and Minister for Lands, Voreqe Bainimarama said the setting up of the land bank was to ensure proper use of land in generating economic activity.

The land bank has been set up so native owners can allow Government to use their property for development purposes and lease it at market rates.

Potential investors and farmers can sub-lease or lease land from the State for a period of up to 99 years from the land bank which was established under the Land Use Decree 2010.

The unit will only use land that has been designated by native titled landowners, from whom consent will have to be obtained.

The long processes and the delay to finalise leases frustrates applicants and therefore reduces the development of the economy in general.

Mr Nope said the Bougainville region had a lot of land, however they do not have a robust strategy such as the land bank.

Fijian Tourism in the Right Direction
Source Jetnews Fiji
310512

With 600,000 visitor arrivals annually and a robust approach adopted by the Fijian Government, the tourism industry in Fiji is now placed on solid footings.

Those are the sentiments of the Minister for Traditional Authority, Information and Communication Joseph Nope of the Autonomous Government of Bougainville (ABG), which is in the country.

Mr Nope says they hope to learn from Fiji to better the ABG region in the tourism sector once they return home.

"Fiji's tourism sector is just magnificent. We have seen the Fijian hospitality and hope to learn as much from the Fijians," he said.

The delegation witnessed Fijian hospitality and how Fijians approached tourists in town and cities and how this has benefited the Fijian economy via the tourism industry.

Culturally, Fijians are known to the world as the friendliest people on earth with the reknowned Bula spirit, topped up with traditional programs that are evident in all hotels and resorts around the country.

"The Fijian fire walking is one such case, there are trips for visitors to the highlands, river safari and traditional Fijian cooking (lovo) which are now known everywhere," Mr Nope said.

"Back in the AGB region we are also very cultural and hope to increase tourist activity there by working closely with the Fijian concepts.

"We have a lot of beautiful islands and beaches too and we hope to finalise something soon with the Fijian Government."

When asked if Fijians could be given opportunities to work in Bougainville to help the region's tourism growth, Mr Nope said this was something they were seriously considering and he was optimistic that things would materialise soon.

300512Minister commends community level participation.
By Aloysius Laukai in Honiara

There is a need for greater level of emphasis on community level participation in helping countries adapt to climate change.
These views were shared by the Solomon Island Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management, Honourable John Moffat Fugui, at the opening of the 5-day Community Workshop on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for the Melanesian Region in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
The Hon. Minister Fugui commended the organisers’ efforts in providing participants the opportunity to share information, experiences and knowledge on climate change adaptation at the community level in Melanesia.
“When specific community case studies are presented for discussion, a greater appreciation will be reached in terms of the struggles and challenges each and every community in our region faces.”
The workshop is an initiative of the AusAID funded Future Climate Leaders Project (FCLP) from the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD) at the University of the South Pacific.
Hon. Minister Fugui said in the Solomon Islands they were especially “gung ho” about issues related to climate change because they were already facing its impacts.
“Just recently it was reported that salt water had intruded into the fresh water lens of swamp taro patches in Sikaiana, one of our atoll islands outside of Malaita Province.”
The workshop participants consist of 30 community representatives from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji and aims to educate, train and share information with Melanesian communities on understanding, mitigating (reducing) and adapting to climate change.
Hon. Minister Fugui said it was especially good to see initiatives that involved people at the community level due to the low numbers of communities acting as a “catalysis of adaptation to climate change and its mitigation.”
“This should have already been a “way of life” for Solomon Islanders. So far, this has yet to be achieved.”
He emphasised though that for Solomon Islands, their new Climate Change Policy, which was approved by Cabinet only three months ago, would take a new approach in ensuring that climate change adaptation and mitigation was promoted and implemented at a provincial-wide level.
The workshop is part of the climate change capacity building and community engagement activity of the Future Climate Leaders Project. End/

Pictured is 3D model of a Marine Protected Area in Naro village, West Guadacanal

Source Jet Newspaper-Fiji

ABG Delegation here to Study Fijian Structure

A delegation from the Autonomous Government of Bougainville is in the country to study the Fijian Government and the land lease structure of the Fijian administration.

Members of the delegation met with the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama this morning where they presented their sevusevu requesting permission to learn how the Fijian Government has been successful in running its affairs without outside influence.

Led by the AGB Minister for Information and LLG, the visit is to study the traditional governance structures and systems of the two countries with a view to develop an informal governance system that best meets the cultures of the people of Bougainville.

The delegation also hopes to learn how Fiji has been dealing with soldiers who are returning home from peace keeping missions abroad.

In welcoming the delegation the Prime Minister thanked the Government of Bougainville for sending a team over.

Fiji's women's groups also will be under study, especially with the role they play in the development of Fiji through women's group, Non - Governmental Organisations and government departments.

"We are here also to learn from Fiji's participation in commercial business involving natural resources like coconut products and others," team leader Joseph Nope said.

"We also are looking at visiting village based eco-tourism projects and learn how they contribute to help improve the livelihood of the people and contribute to the economy."

The team is looking at meeting up with government agencies to learn about its system of land ownership and how they keep records of traditional communal land and fishing rights.­­­

"We want to explore the possibility of an exchange scheme where Bougainville can learn from Fiji to help develop its eco-tourism, cottage industries, sports and recreation and other important programs.

280512 Caritas PNG Awareness
by TTovilu

Caritas PNG in Bougainville last Friday carried out awareness on electing and choosing good leaders in this year's elections.
The awareness program which involved floats and spot awareness in the main areas of Buka town was welcomed by the public.
The main message was for voters to choose carefully as the future of Bougainville was in the hands of the voters.
A speaker told the people of Bougainville to put their future first and forget about bribes and other corrupt practise during this election period.

Ends


End.....

280512EU-GCCA MEET
By Aloysius Laukai in Honiara

Participants of the Five Day Community Workshop on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Melanesian Region pose this AL Picture.

The Five-Day Learning Intensive Workshop conducted by the Pacific Centre For Environment and Sustainable Development based at the University of South Pacific started this morning in Honiara.

Due to the Public Holiday in Solomon Islands the workshop started with field trip to a Naro village Marine Conservation Area in West Guadacanal.

The program is part of the AusAid funded Future Climate Leaders project and aims to interact and share information with melanesian communities on understanding, reducing (mitigation) and adapting to climate change.

Participants are from Vanuatu,Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

PNG is represented by Jason Alonk the In country Cordinator for the EU-GCCA project in PNG and Rebecca Asigau Forest Campaigner with Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights Inc, Friends of the Earth and Aloysius Laukai the Chairman of Tulele Peisa inc the NGO group resettling Carterets Islanders to mainland Bougainville.

Fact Findiing Mission

260512FACTFINDING MISSION PACIFIC
By Aloysius Laukai in Port Moresby

ABG delegation of eight people are traveling to Fiji and Tonga for a fact finding mission on customary governing systems of the two Pacific countries.
The Minister for Local Level Government and communications in the ABG,JOE NOPE said the team will study the chief system in Fiji and the Monarchy in Tonga.

He explained the this was part of reviewing the current COE system on Bougainville.

Minister Nope says that Bougainville will then carry similar awareness in all districts to gauge the view of all Bougainvilleans on what type of system Bougainville would like to adopt.

The team consists of Minister JOE NOPE ,Deputy administrator Raymond Masono,llg officer Herbert Kimai chief Reuben Tokome and others.
They will return to Buka in two weeks time

25051269NOMINATE IN BOUGAINVILLE
By Aloysius Laukai
A total of Sixty nine candidates have nominated to contest Bougainville seats in the 2012 PNG General Elections.
After close of nominations yesterday, 13 candidates nominated for the Bougainville Regional seat currently held by FIDELIS SEMOSO.
For the South Bougainville seat currently held by the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Stephen Pirika Kamma 14 candidates have nominated.
For the North Bougainville open, 20 candidates nominated to contest the seat currently held by MR. LOUTA ATOI.
And Central Bougainville Open seat which is currently held by the Communication Minister Jimmy Miringtoro would be contested by 22 candidates.
In the Regional seat candidates are JOE LERA the former Commissioner for South Bougainville Region in the Bougainville administration, woman candidate and former ABG member for Central Bougainville representing Central Bougainville women, MAGDALENE TOROANSI, another unknown woman candidate, LYNNETTE ONA, Former ABG Lawyer KAPEATU PUARIA, former clerk of PNG National Parliament, SIMON PENTANU,SAM CAROL,JIMMIE MOSE, ALBERT MAGOI, former ABG Vice President in the Kabui led government, JOSEPH WATAWI, Former BRA Commander, ISHMAEL TOROAMA and Buka Air-condition man, HENRY ONSA, Bougainville Musician and former ABG Member representing Ex-combatants in North Bougainville, MARCHELIN GETSI and including the sitting member FIDELIS SEMOSO.
The Central Bougainville Open seat will be contested by mostly heavy weights in the Central Bougainville Region.
They include the sitting member and Communication Minister, JIMMY MIRINGTORO Lawyer THOMAS TAMUSIO, Strong women advocator and woman leader THERESA JAINGTONG, Former Central Bougainville Member SAM AKOITAI, MARTIN MIRIORI,WESLY THOMAS, Former UNDP Boss for Central Region JUSTIN BORGIA, former ABG member for KOKODA, RODNEY OSIOCO, former ABG member for Rao, LEO REIVASI, Chairman of the Panguna Landowners Association, CHRIS DAMANA, CHRISANTO KOROKORO, Arawa Businessman SIMON BARANANKO, the current ABG member for Kongara who resigned to contest the National seat, DOMINIC ITTA, LAURIE PATRICK and WILLIAM REINHART.CLARENCE DENCY,DOMINIC DIUKA,JOE TARUNA,LOHIAL BUAIA NUAU,Meekamui strongman CHRIS BAO,MATHEW KUSA and JOSEPH SIPU.
For South Bougainville the fight would be between two heavy weights the current Sitting member and Minister for Bougainville Affairs, STEPHEN KAMA PIRIKA and former member for South Bougainville MICHAEL LAIMO the others are PETER MANUKA, TIMOTHY MASIU the media director for the East New Britain Governor, Businessman, PETER BANA,JOSEPH MOIKUI, DAVID KAUA,JOSEPH PARUM, THADEUS KAILE, former Local Level Government Officer PATRICK HEROMATE, RAYMOND KAKAPONI, GABRIEL PANGTEI, MICHAEL ANUGU,PETER CHANEL TENGKA.
For the North Bougainville seat, The current sitting member, LOUTA ATOI is being challenged by many new and aspiring leaders starting with ISAAC HEKEN THOMPSON,DONALD HAMAU TATO,RACHAEL OPETI KONAKA, Buka businessman WILLIAM NAKIN,NOEL SAREI,HILLARY TSUNNO, Bougainville’s Movie star, ALBERT TORO, the current ABG sitting member for Hagogohe who resigned to contest this seat, ROBERT HAMAL SAWA, DOMINIC TOAPALA TUMARR, JOHN SISIASI, former ABG member for Atolls, TAEHU KEALI PAIS,GERARD MASA,SYLVESTER NIU,JOHN BITI BULE,DAMIAN KORA, MICHAEL HAMOUN ROSS and the former ABG member for Peit and Bougainville Tourism promoter, LAWRENCE BELLEH, former Education Boss, TONY TSORA, former ABG Deputy Speaker, FRANCESCA RIANNA SEMOSO.
Campaigning throughout Bougainville has been quite with candidates and the supporters slowly gearing up for aggressive campaigns towards the end of Campaigns.
Ends

Picture of Siwai Arms summit

Picture of Siwai Arms summit opening

Arms Summit

Arms summit starts
By Aloysius Laukai in Siwai

CEO for Siwai ,JOE ALBERT NORO says that the three days arms summit aims to get the people of goodwill to talk on ways of addresing the Arms issue affecting Bougainville today.

Mr.Noro made these comment when welcoming participants at the opening of the Siwai District Arms summit.

He said that issues highlighted and shouted by the general public at this meeting would be compiled to build the overal resolutions at the end of this summit.

At the end of the summit the team leading this summit will adopt set of resolutions on ways this issue can be addressed in future.

And maybe used as model by other areas in Bougainville.
Mr.Noro said that it was not the crowd that matters for many are called and few a chosen so these few presenters would make an impact on the issue of weapons on Bougainville