By Aloysius Laukai
The President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Hon James Tanis, has announced that the Bougainville Executive Council has approved the long awaited head tax rule, meaning that all established Councils of Elders can now tax citizens of the province.
This rule makes it legal for all Councils of Elders to collect head taxes.
Mr Tanis said the approval was made in accordance with Part 10 of the Bougainville Council of Elders Act 1996 subsection 2 of the Council of Elders Head Tax (Enabling) Act 2006. He said he was happy to announce that the rule has been approved to enable the collection of much needed taxes.
Earlier this month, Buka Combined Council of Chiefs chairman, Joseph Gatana, questioned why the ABG was slow in approving the collections.
Mr Gatana said Councils in Buka had been waiting patiently for approval so they could finalise budgets and other policies to raise funds from head tax and trade store licences.
New Dawn FM understands this now puts to rest questions of the legality of Councils of Elders collecting head taxes.
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