NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

280111UNSETTLED DEBT RAISES CONCERN
By JOYCE TOHUI
BOUGAINVILLEANS have shed concern s over the unsettled debts and outstanding claims left behind by the former North Bougainville MP, Michael OGIO.
The unsettled debts and outstanding claims, which have allegedly been collecting dust in the member’s office, have drawn a serious concern among the people of North Bougainville.
And they are questioning Mr. OGIO on how these funds would be settled.
They claimed he has not settled outstanding claims stemmed from projects not funded over the years since 2007 which also includes service providers’ invoices.
A complainant said a lot of these projects with their allocated funds promised by Mr. OGIO were not fulfilled.
He said as a service provider assisting Mr. OGIO since he came into power as the member for North Bougainville, so far nothing has been done to settle debts.
He added many outstanding issues are yet to be settled and the North Bougainville people are still waiting patiently.
He said some of Mr. OGIO’s special commitments including overdue claims still remain pending and this also includes the DSIP funded projects that has not benefited the people.

280111POLICE CHIEF ENFORCE LAW ON OFFICERS
By JOYCE TOHUI
ACP for the Bougainville Police Service, THOMAS ELUH has issued a stern warning to all police officers serving on Bougainville.
He said any member of the police service caught involved in police brutality and humiliation of any member of the public will be penalised.
ACP ELUH said zero tolerance will be given to police officers found in any form of brutality, humiliation and abuse to any member of the public.
Mr. ELUH said the police primary role is to protect life, property and to serve the community with utmost trust and respect under any circumstances.
He added the law only allows for reasonable force to be used in circumstances of imminent threat to life and property when in danger of permanent injury or death.
ACP ELUH said now is an opportune time to rethink our police approach to policing on Bougainville due to the painful lessons learnt in the Bougainville crisis.
Mr. ELUH strongly believes that a combination of traditional and community policing is the best way forward for the Bougainville Police Service.

280111VILOSI CONCERNED
By Aloysius Laukai

A senior Doctor from the Buka General Hospital is calling on the people of Bougainville to eat good healthy food to remain healthy.

DR. JOSEPH VILOSI told New Dawn FM that diabetes was on the increase in young youths due to the heavy consumption of homebrew.

He said that the problem was on the rise and questioned how Bougainville will become independent without a healthy workforce.

DR. VILOSI also called on the leaders and chiefs to make sure that young under-aged are not allowed to drink any form of alcohol.

He said that the law to punish under-aged youths for drinking alcohol must be enforced on Bougainville.

DR.Vilosi said that he was very concerned to see young school-aged youths drinking alcohol and becoming a nuisance in the communities.

280111A NEW DAY HIGH SCHOOL TO OPEN

By JOYCE TOHUI

A New Day High School in the Haku area, North Bougainville will open its doors for the first time when School begins on 7th of February.

This was revealed by the ABG Minister for Education, JOHN TABINAMAN.

He said that Ninety students were selected from the six primary schools within the Haku Constituency to occupy two grade 9 classes, with four teachers appointed to facilitate learning in the new high school.

Last Tuesday Minister Tabinaman visited the school to assess whether infrastructure was in place for student intakes this year and also see the physical site of the total land area of the high school.

He was convinced that the new infrastructure was ready to cater for Haku Day High School.

Most importantly Mr. Tabinaman was impressed with the size of land allocated for the high school by the landowners of that area.

He said a four-in-one classroom building and two teacher’s houses provided by the Tanamalo Primary School would cater for the first grade 9 intakes.

Mr. Tabinaman added little work is still needed on the current four-in-one classroom building to improve its condition.

He requested the people of Haku Constituency especially the communities who benefited from the high school to co-operate with the Education Division and complete the necessary preparation work to meet target date for 2011 classes.

The new Haku Day High School came as a request from the people of Haku Constituency during the first ABG and 2011 was earmarked for the commencement of the high school.

It is located within Tanamalo Primary School, a United Church Agency School.

270111 NEWS JUST IN
By Aloysius Laukai

Mekamui soldiers in the Konnou area of Buin this morning raided Mongai village killing one youth and wounding several others.

According to reports from Buin, the people of Mongai were having a soccer competition when they were attacked.

The South Bougainville Police Commander, Inspector Paul Kamuai whilst confirming the attack said that this localized fighting in the Konnou area must be stopped quickly before more deaths occur.

He said from Buin this afternoon, that there have been peace talks between the Mekamui and Freedom Fighters since the end of last year and today’s killing has jeopardized this peace initiative.

New Dawn FM understands that nearly all killings by the so called mekamui in the Konnou area have been during peace negotiations.

270111TARA RESPONDS
By Aloysius Laukai

The Chief Executive Officer for Nissan District, GEORGE TARALA this afternoon thanked the Health Division for involving them in the Health Division’s Five Year Plan 2011-2015.

He said that Health Division was the only division that was functioning well and performing its duties to deliver Health Services to the rural communities.

MR. TARALA said that by involving the CEO’s from the Districts, it was making them more aware of the division’s activities in the districts.

He says that the District CEO’s will continue to work with the Health Division to make sure that Health service is delivered to the communities.

MR. TARALA was speaking at the closing of the Health Planning workshop on Sohano island.

He also called on other divisions to follow the example of the Health Division to involve other stakeholders in their programs.

270111WORKSHOP ENDS
By Aloysius Laukai

The CEO for Health on Bougainville, DR. ANTHONY PUMPARA today thanked participants of the HEALTH PLANNING WORKSHOP for their contribution towards setting the road map for the division.

He said that their contribution in putting flesh to the skeleton plan has made it possible for his office to finalize the Bougainville Health Strategic Plan 2011 to 2015.

DR. PUMPARA said that the draft plan would be presented to the National Health Department when they visit Bougainville on February 21st this year.

He said that the final draft for the plan would be completed by March this year.

The CEO for Health was speaking at the closing of the Health Planning workshop which started on Monday this week.

He also thanked Chief Executive Officers from the Districts for participating and contributing towards the Bougainville Health Plan.

DR. PUMPARA said the aim of involving them was to make sure that as heads in the districts, they must know how the Health facilities are operating.

270111safety first
By Aloysius Laukai

Safety Advisor on Bougainville, Ex Savior Tsiwa is calling on the residents of Buka Town to be safety conscious at all times.

MR. TSIWA who runs safety first courses in Buka town told New Dawn FM that he was very concerned at the safety standards being exercised in Buka town.

He said that the small town of Buka is packed by people especially students going back to school that they must think of safety when crossing roads and rushing to make last minute shopping.

MR. SIWA said that as a Safety advisor he wants to remind the public to be safety conscious at all times.

He said that accidents occur because people do not adhere to small safety precautions.

260111bougainville visits
By Aloysius Laukai

The Division of Health on Bougainville is very concerned at the number of groups entering Bougainville either to carry out awareness on Health Issues and also to sell medical drugs to the stores.

CEO for Health Division, DR. ANTHONY PUMPARA says that his division is aware of these activities but cannot do anything about them until the Health Powers are drawn down to Bougainville.

He told New Dawn FM that many groups are coming from outside and going to the villages instead of reporting to the authorities the purpose of their visit to Bougainville.

The CEO said that once the powers are drawn down, they would make it their priority to make sure that all good friends of Bougainville and NGO follow strict guidelines on how they should operate on Bougainville.

260111put in second place
By Aloysius Laukai

A Bougainville chief is calling on the Electoral office to use avenues available to declare the runner up for the last National Elections to temporarily take of office instead of conducting the By-election.

The Chief who wants to remain anonymous told New Dawn FM in Buka that when the LPV voting system was introduced there was a talk of saving expensive by-elections by appointing the runner- up if the member resigns or dies.

He said and due to the time in which the General Election will be conducted the best option is to appoint the runner up from the last election.

The chief said that the Electoral Office is yet to settle outstanding commitments from the ABG Elections and would find it difficult to get assistance until it settles these bills first.

New Dawn FM understands that the runner up for the North Bougainville seat and former National member died at the end of last year.