NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

300311CHOLERA PANIC
By Aloysius Laukai

New Dawn FM has been receiving calls from the public concerning not enough awareness concerning the Cholera outbreak in Lontis, Buka island.
They said that more awareness on prevention must be quickly carried out throughout Buka island and mainland Bougainville.
Chairman of the Cholera Task Force, PATRICK KOLES says that while the figures had risen to 65, the task force assures the communities that attendance at Lemanmanu health centre and at the advance medical post in Lontis had actually declined indicating the episode is now being controlled,” said Koles.
“The public is also advised that while there were reported cases at Hutjena and Gogohe, the public health team had actually acted very quickly and had sent these cases back to Lemanmanu were they had initially migrated from,” said Koles.
He added that CTF has already effected the following measures:
• Total ban on sale of cooked food and homemade ice block at public and road side markets,
• In relation to schools in affected areas, the task force feels there is no need to close down schools unless schools report any episode of diarrhea and
• The task force will conduct massive awareness among communities and encourage the school teachers to ensure school children receive the message on basic hygiene measures which is the most important factor in controlling cholera.
“Basically, the community must take ownership of their health by practicing basic hygiene rules,” said Koles.

310311MINING ISSUE
By Aloysius Laukai
ABG President Chief John Momis said that,Bougainville leaders were the first people in Papua New Guinea to be confronted with the difficult issue of allowing foreign exploitation and development of their resources.
He was speaking at the Mining Brainstorming workshop in Buka yesterday.
He said that Bougainvilleans were in a dependent position, which means important decisions were made for us in a belief that those decisions were to secure the best interest of the landowners, resource owners and the people at large.
Mr.Momis said that unlike today,we did not have too much access to expert information and knowledge to the difficult issue of mining.
He said that PNG and Australian government were looking for ways of convincing Australian Tax Payers and Papua New Guineans that it was time to have Independence.
And Pangunamine was obviously the resource that was perceived to bring great wealth or generate revenue for the government and thus relieve Australian colonial government of its responsibilities to provide goods and services to the people of Papua New Guinea.
He said that the people of Bougainville were never fully consulted and Bougainville’s leaders advice was ignored.
MR. MOMIS told those gathered that today is different and based on those past mistakes, Bougainville need to be well informed on which steps to take to develop the economy of Bougainville.

310311MARKET OPENING
By Aloysius Laukai

The long awaited opening of the Buka Town will happen tomorrow.

And according to the programme, speakers would include the Manageress of Buka Urban Council, BRENDA TOHIANA, The Regional member for Bougainville, FIDELIS SEMOSO, ABG President, Chief John Momis,
National Planning Minister, Paul Tiensten and the National Minister for Finance and Planning,PETER ONIEL.

The market would be opened by the National Planning Minister, PETER ONIEL.

New Dawn FM understands the Buka market upgrading was done for SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA.

310311PIRIKA TO DELIVER
By Aloysius Laukai

The member for South Bougainville, STEVEN PIRIKA will officially deliver three Police vehicles to the Commander of South Bougainville Police, PAUL KAMUAI in Buin this Saturday.

The three vehicles will serve the three areas of Siwai, Buin and Bana districts.

The member made the announcement in Buin during the South Bougainville games at the end of last year.

Commander for South Bougainville Police Service, PAUL KAMUAI told New Dawn FM that the member’s contribution will greatly help the mobility of South Bougainville Police in attending to Law and order cases.

The three vehicles were bought for Three Hundred Thousand Kina.

New Dawn FM understands the former member for North Bougainville also bought vehicles for the Buka and Tinputz Police stations last year.

300311 KOROMIRA BENEFIT
By Aloysius Laukai

The St. Gregory Technical High School, Koromira yesterday benefitted from another donation from Australia totaling TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND KINA.

And this was announced by the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Affairs, RICHARD MARLES at the ground-breaking ceremony in Koromira yesterday afternoon.

The ceremony was witnessed by ABG the member for Central Bougainville in the National Parliament, JIMMY MIRINGTORO,ABG Minister for Finance, ALBERT PUNGHAU and the veterans Affairs Minister, DAVID SISITO.

According to the school’s principal, MR. MIHEN this would be the 3rd time the school has received assistance from Australia through its aid agency Ausaid.

MR. MIHEN said that earlier Ausaid had contributed with the Workshop building and a Generator worth more than ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA.

Yesterday, MR. MARLES Scooped the first soil at the site the new Science Lab will be built.

Pictured is the RAAF Plane that brought the Australian Delegation to Buka and back.
Picture by Aloysius Laukai

300311 AUS SUPPORT
By Aloysius Laukai

Australia has responded positively to requests made by the ABG President John Momis in Australia last month.

The visiting Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific States, RICHARD MARLES told reporters in Arawa last night that Australia is ready to assist Bougainville if requests for prioritized specific projects are made by the ABG.

He said that Australia has long relationship with Bougainville going back to world war 2.

MR. MARLES also announced approved funds for certain projects on Bougainville.

For the Cholera outbreak at Lontis village, Buka island they have approved SIXTY THOUSAND KINA including the TEN THOUSAND KINA already used for helping in containing the situation.

For the St. Gregory Technical School in Koromira they would give TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND KINA for the school’s Science lab.

AND another SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA has been approved for the Bougainville Police Service’s Housing Project.

Richard Marles and his delegation over-nighted in Arawa and returned to Australia this morning.

Pictured is Richard Marles digging the first soil out for the Science Lab.
Abg Minister for finance Albert Punghau is at his side.

Picture by Aloysius Laukai

ABG Member for SELAU constituency, TERRY MOSE delivering a speech during the swearing in ceremony of the HANTOA Village Assembly members

ABG Member for SELAU constituency, TERRY MOSE delivering a speech during the swearing in ceremony of the HANTOA Village Assembly members