Improved communications announced by Minister

By Aloysius Laukai

The Autonomous Bougainville Government sees communication as one of the priority areas in its desire to fast track development in the Province, the Minister for Public Service and Communication, Robert Hamal Sawa, has said.

Mr Sawa said ABG recognises the importance of communication and has allowed the Digicel mobile phone company to establish its service throughout the region. The Minister was explaining the work of his Department at a meeting with Panguna landowners.

He said that the ABG had also recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Telikom PNG to establish twenty VSAT stations in remote locations of Bougainville. He said the VSAT installations have been funded by New Zealand aid of one million kina with counter funding by the Autonomous Bougainville Government.