NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

311213
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A Ministerial Statement
to the Bougainville House of
Representatives
By
Hon Dr Chief John l Momis GCl, MHR,
President of the Autonomous Region of
Bougainville and the Autonomous
Bougainville Government
On
The occasion of the presentation by the
Minister for Planning, Finance &
Treasury, of the ABG 2014 Budget,
Tuesday 31st December 2013

•
MR SPEAKER, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME LEAVE TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON
THE GOVERNMENT'S 2014 BUDGET, WHICH WAS PRESENTED BY THE
MINISTER FOR FINANCE, TREASURY AND PLANNING YESTERDAY MORNING.
MR SPEAKER, I WANT TO BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MINE AND MY WIFE'S
GRATITUDE FOR THE MANY CONDOLENCE MESSAGES THAT WE RECEIVED ON
THE DEATH OF OUR ONLY DAUGHTER, MARYCATH, AND THE SUPPORT
ACCORDED TO US BY BOUGAINVILLE LEADERS; LIKE YOURSELF, MEMBERS
OF THE HOUSE, ALL BOUGAINVILLEANS AND FRIENDS IN AND OUTSIDE OF
BOUGAINVILLE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND ABROAD. WHILST IT HAS NOT BEEN
EASY FOR BOTH OF US, THE SUPPORT FROM THE PEOPLE OF BOUGAINVILLE
HAS HELPED US TO RECOVER FROM THE ORDEAL.
MR SPEAKER, AT THIS JUNCTURE, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE FIVE
NEW MEMBERS OF THE ABG PARLIARMENT ON THEIR ELECTIONS AS
REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR CONSTITUENCIES IN THE BOUGAINVILLE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES. WHIILST TWO HAVE BEEN MEMBERS BEFORE AND
ARE WELL VERSED WITH THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
CONSTITUENCY MEMBER, THE OTHER THREE MEMBERS WILL NEED TO NOT
ONLY LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THE 15 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ISSUE
OF WRITS (FOR THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTIONS), BUT ALSO DO AS MUCH FOR
THEIR CONSTITUENCIES DURING THIS SHORT PERIOD. THIS WILL NOT BE
EASY AS YOU WILL SOON FIND OUT. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO RETURN

• THE PEOPLE'S TRUST IN YOU AS THEIR LEADERS BY REASLISTICALL Y
REPRESENTING THEM IN PARLIARMENT IN THE PERIOD THAT YOU ARE THEIR
MEMBER UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTIONS.
MR SPEAKER, LET ME NOW TURN TO THE 2014 ABG BUDGET. I WANT TO
CONGRATULATE THE MINISTER AND THANK HIM FOR PRESENTING ANOTHER
GOOD BUDGET TO THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE. THE 2014 ABG BUDGET IS
APROPRIATELY THEMED "CONSOLIDATING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH HIGH IMPACT INVESTMENT" BECAUSE IT IS ONE WHICH I BELIEVE
TAKES THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF BOUGAINVILLE ONE STEP
,
FURTHER IN THE JOURNEY THAT WE, AS A PEOPLE HAVE CHOSEN TO
EMBARK UPON AND THUS CONTINUE TO TRAVEL TOGETHER IN OUR QUEST
AND ASPIRATIONS FOR A BEDER FUTURE. BUT I ALSO WANT TO USE THIS
OCCASSION TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF BOUGAINVILLE ON
THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE SINCE WE TOOK OFFICE WITH
REGARD TO WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
CONTINUE TO FACE AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO OVERCOME THESE
CHALLENGES MOVING FORWARD IN 2014 AND BEYOND.
MR SPEAKER, THIS JOURNEY HAS NOT BEEN EASY; IN FACT SINCE THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST ABG IN 2005, SUCCESSIVE BOUGAINVILLE
GOVERNMENTS HAVE FACED MANY CHALLENGES. AS A NEW AND POST-
CONFLICT GOVERNMENT WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AND CAPACITY WE WILL
21t-'age
•
NO DOUBT CONTINUE TO ENCOUNTER MANY MORE CHALLENGES ALONG THE
WAY. SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES EMANATE FROM:
• THE NEED TO MEET THE VERY HIGH AND SOMETIMES UNREALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS OF OUR PEOPLE FOR QUALITY GOODS, SERVICES
AND DEVELOPMENT;
• THE REQUIREMENT TO MEET INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED
STANDARDS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE; AND
• IMPLEMENTING THE BOUGAINVILLE PEACE AGREEMENT WITH
REGARD TO
 PEACE AND RECONCILIATION,
 WEAPONS DISPOSAL, AND,
 THE REF~RENDUM.
MR SPEAKER, THESE CHALLENGES REMIND US THAT OUR SITUATION IS NOT A
NORMAL ONE; RATHER IT IS UNIQUE TO BOUGAINVILLE AND THEREFORE
REQUIRES SPECIFIC INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, SOME OF WHICH ARE
ADDRESSED IN THE 2014 BUDGET.
MR SPEAKER, THE SHIFTING OF A LARGER PORTION OF THE RECURRENT
BUDGET AS WELL AS PLANS TO DEPLOY MORE PEOPLE TO DISTRICTS UNDER
A NEW DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS ONE SUCH INTERVENTION. THE
STRENGTHENING OF COUNCIL OF ELDERS (COEs) AS THE SECOND TIER OF
GOVERNANCE IN BOUGAINVILLE, THROUGH INCREASED FUNDING AND OTHER

TECHNICAL SUPPORT IS ANOTHER STRATEGY THAT IS ADDRESSED IN THE
2014 BUDGET.
MR SPEAKER, BY FOCUSING ON THE DISTRICTS AS FOCAL POINTS FOR
SERVICE DELIVERY, THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS BY THE
MAJORITY OF OUR PEOPLE TO BASIC, BUT QUALITY GOODS AND SERVICES.
HOWEVER WE MUST APPRECIATE THAT BOUGAINVILLE WAS REDUCED TO
BASIC HUMANITY IN THE CONFLICT AND WE ARE STARTING FROM BELOW
GROUND ZERO IN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING THIS NATION REMAINS AN
ARDUOUS AND LONG JOURNEY FOR ALL OF US. UFORTUNATEL Y, THERE IS NO
SHORT CUTS.
MR SPEAKER, THE PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS BEING UNDERTAKEN WITHIN
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THE ADMINISTRATION, AND WHICH WILL BE CONSOLIDATED WITH THE
COMING INTO FORCE OF THE BOUGAINVILLE PUBIC SERVICES
(MANAGEMENT) ACT AND THE BOUGAINVILLE PUBLIC FINANCE
(MANAGEMENT) ACT IN JANUARY 2014 ARE AIMED AT INSTITUTING MEASURES
THAT WILL RESULT IN A MORE EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY PROCESS AS
WELL AS STRENGTHENING GOOD GOVERNANCE.
MR SPEAKER, PEACE AND RECONCILIATON, AND WEAPONS DISPOSAL
CONTINUE TO BE MAJOR CHALLENGES FOR THE GOVERNMENT. THESE ARE
ISSUES THAT MUST BE DEALT WITH COLLECTIVELY BUT DECISIVELY IF WE
ARE GOING TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS TOWARD CREATING THE NEW
BOUGAINVILLE THAT OUR LEADERS ASPIRED TO WHEN WE SIGNED THE
BOUGAINVILLE PEACE AGREEMENT. WEAPONS DISPOSAL IS ESPECIALLY
CRUCIAL TO OUR JOURNEY AND ONE WHICH MUST BE ADDRESSED
IMMEDIATELY AS WE APPROACH THE REFERENDUM ON OUR ULTIMATE
POLITICAL FUTURE. I AM HAPPY THAT A SIZABLE AMOUNT HAS BEEN
ALLOCATED TO THESE PROGRAMS IN 2014.
MR SPEAKER, THE BUDGET IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED FUNDS TO
IMPLEMENT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL IMPROVE THE WELFARE OF
THE 'MAJORITY OF BOUGAINVILEANS WHO ARE STILL RURAL BASED. BUT
RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF HOW MUCH WE CAN SPEND
BECAUSE WE STILL RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE TO GIVE US THE MONEY TO
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FINANCE OUR BUDGET. MORE THAN 85% OF THE ABG'S 2014 BUDGET STILL
COMES FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. UNTIL THE ABG CAN RAISE MORE
OF ITS REVENUE INTERNALLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE DICTATED TO BY
OTHERS, NOT, ONLY ON THE PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT, BUT
PERHAPS MORE SO, ON THE LEVEL OF RESOURCES THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE
TO PROGRAMS THAT WE BELIEVE WILL ALSO MAKE THE HIGHEST IMPACT IN
THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE.
MR SPEAKER, IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT MY GOVERNMENT IN 2010 NOT
ONLY ENDORSED THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS DECISION TO NEGOTIATE
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THE REOPENING OF THE PANGUNA MINE, BUT ALSO ACCELLERATED IN THE
LAST THREE YEARS, PREPATIONS BY ABG AND PANGUNA MINE AFFECTED
LANDOWNERS TO NEGOTIATE ITS REOPENING. MY GOVERNMENT BELIEVES
THAT AN OPERATING PANGUNA MINE WILL BE CATAL YCTICAL TO
BOUGAINVILLE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GENERATING MUCH NEEDED
REVENUE TO SUPPORT OTHER SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY.
MR SPEAKER, HOWEVER, THERE IS A DISTINCTION THAT NEEDS TO BE
EMPHASISED BETWEEN THE PROCESS OF PREPARATIONS FOR, AND
CONDUCT OF NEGOTIATIONS TO REOPEN THE PANGUNA MINE AND THE
DRAFT BOUGAINVILLE MINING (TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS) BILL
CURRETLY AT CONSULTATION STAGE. THE BOUGAINVILLE MINING BILL IS TO
REGULATE ALL MINING ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION; ITS OBJECTIVE IS NOT
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ABOUT PANGUNA MINE, ALTHOUGH A REOPENED PANGUNA MINE WILL BE
REQUIRED TO OPERATE AND BE REGULATED UNDER THIS AND FUTURE
BOUGAINVILLE MINING LAWS. TO CONTINUE TO MAKE BLANKET STATEMENTS
THAT THE PROPOSED BOUGAINVILLE MINING BILL OR SECTIONS OF THE BILL
PROTECTS BOUGAINVILLE COPPER LIMITED, AS SOME PEOPLE CONTINUE TO
ASSERT IS NOT TRUE.
MR SPEAKER, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT BEHOLDEN TO BOUGAINVILLE
COPPER LIMITED (BCL); IT IS THE LANDDOWNERS WHO SPECIFICALLY
WANTED BCL. THEY ARGUED THEN AND NOW THAT IT IS BETTER TO DEAL
WITH THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, AND THE DEVIL THAT KNOWS US THAN A
COMPLETELY NEW DEVIL. SO ANY ASSERTION THAT WE ARE PROTECTING
BCL IS NOT TRUE.
MR SPEAKER, THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT BOUGAINVILLEANS NEED TO
UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE; THIS CONCERNS THE ENGAGEMENT OF
FOREIGN ADVISORS. EVERY LEADER IN THE WORLD HAS ADVISORS WORKING
FOR THEM; THE ROLE OF AN ADVISOR IS TO ADVISE, BUT THE BULK STOPS
WITH THE LEADER. WE SHOULD NOT LET MERE SUSPICION CLOUD OUR OWN
INDEPENDENT AND INTELLIGENT THINKING OR BE INFLUENCED BY THOSE
WHOM WE PERCIEVE ARE STRONGER THAN US.
MR SPEAKER, WITH REGARD TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE
GOVERNMENT IS NOT PUTTING ALL ITS EGGS INTO ONE BASKET; THE
GOVERNMENT IS SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
FISHERIES AND TOURISM SECTORS TO GROW THE ECONOMY IN 2014. WITH
REGARD TO MINING, THE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON BE CONSIDERING OTHER
OPTIONS, SHOULD PANGUNA NOT GO AHEAD AS EXPECTED.
MR SPEAKER, CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS IN THE
EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY WILL FOLLOW THE PASSAGE OF BOUGAINVILLE'S
OWN MINING LAW IN 2014 AFTER THE PEOPLE HAVE HAD AN OPORTUNITY TO
GIVE THEIR VIEWS. THE PASSAGE OF 0 R OWN MINING LAW WILL ENABLE
THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER OPTIONS TO ALLOW MINERAL
EXPLORATIONS TO COMMENCE. CONTRARY TO WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING
ABOUT THE BILL, IT IS STILL AT CONSULTATION STAGE.
MR SPEAKER, WITH REGARD TO REOPENING PANGUNA, THE GOVERNMENT
HAS INVESTED MUCH FROM ITS OWN MEAGRE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT
PANGUNA MINE AFFECTED LANDOWNERS PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN ANY
DECISONS CONCERNING THE MINE AND THAT THE WIDER BOUGAINVILE
COMMUNITY ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE
FUTURE OF PANGUNA MINE. REGIONAL PUBLIC FORUMS HAVE BEEN
CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH AND BREATH OF BOUGAINVILLE TO
GAUGE THE VIEWS OF BOUGAINVILLEANS INCLUDING WORKSHOPS WITH EX-
COMBATANTS ON THE REOPENING OF PANGUNA MINE. ENGAGEMENTS WITH
LANDOWNERS THROUGH THE 9 ESTABLISHED LANDOWNER ASSOCIATIONS
ARE CONTINUING ON A BY-MONTHLY BASIS.
MR SPEAKER, WHILST THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO
SUPPORT THE PROCESS IN 2014 AND BEYOND, THE MINE AFFECTED
LANDOWNERS MUST DECIDE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER WHETHER OR
NOT THEY STILL SUPPORT THE ABG IN THIS ENDEAVOUR. THIS WILL ENABLE
THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS TO REOPENING PANGUNA.
WE CANNOT PROCASTINATE FOR EVER.
•
MR SPEAKER, 2014 IS A CRUCIAL YEAR FOR THIS GOVERNMENT; NOT ONLY IS
IT LIKELY THAT THE DATE FOR THE REFERENDUM WILL BE SET, BUT THIS
GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE LESS THAN 15 MONTHS BEFORE THE ISSUE OF
WRITS FOR THE NEXT ABG GENERAL ELECTIONS. OUR CRITICS WILL SAY
THAT WE HAVE NOT ACHIEVED MUCH; BUT ONLY A BLIND FOOL WILL NOT SEE
THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE SINCE 2010. NOT ONLY HAVE WE
ACHIEVED A LOT, BUT WE HAVE ALSO MADE MUCH PROGRESS IN OUR
EFFORTS TO CREATE A HARMONIOUS, PEACEFULL AND PROSPEROUS
SOCIETY FOR OUR PEOPLE.
,
MR SPEAKER, IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING AUTONOMY, THIS GOVERNMENT
HAS PASSED A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT LEGILATIONS BOTH IN RESPONSE TO
CONCERNS BY OUR PEOPLE AS WELL AS IN RESPONSE TO THE CHANGING
CONTEXT OF OUR AUTNOMOUS ARRANGEMET. IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR
PEOPLE FROM DOMINATION BY UNSCRUPULOUS FOREIGN BUSINESSES, WE
RECENTLY PASSED THE INWARD INVESTMENT LAW.
MR SPEAKER, IN ADDITION, ANOTHER IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED BY THE GOVERNMENT IS THE BOUGAINVILLE
EDUCATION LAW; THIS WILL ENABLE THE ABG TO MANAGE ITS OWN
EDUCATION SYSTEM, QUITE SEPARATE FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA. THE
BOUGAINVILLE PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT ACT AND THE BOUGAINVILE
PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT ACT ARE TWO VERY IMPORTANT PIECES OF

LEGISLATION THAT ARE EXPECTED TO COME INTO FORCE IN THE NEW YEAR.
SUCH LEGISLATIONS ARE PART OF THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING
AUTONOMY THROUGH THE ENACTMENT OF BOUGAINVILLE LAWS TO
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED UNDER NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT LAWS.
MR SPEAKER, THESE TWO LEGISLATIONS ARE ALSO PART OF THE PUBLIC
SECTOR REFORMS BEING UNDERTAKEN IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE
THE NEW BOUGAINVILLE PUBLIC SERVICE MORE EFFECTIVE AS WELL AS TO
STRENGHTEN GOOD GOVERNANCE.
MR SPEAKER, THE MUCH PUBLICISED BOUGAINVILLE MINING (TRANSTIONAL
ARANGEMENTS) BILL WILL ASO BE DELIBERATED ON BY THIS HOUSE IN THE
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NEW YEAR AFTER THE PEOPLE OF BOUGANVILLE HAVE HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, THE
GOVERNMENT WAS CONSULTING ONLY WITH A VERY SMALL SECTION OF THE
COMMUNITY, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY WANT THE LAW TO BE TAILORED IN A
CERTAIN WAY. BUT LAWS ARE MADE FOR EVERY CITIZEN AND IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE THAT LAWS ARE FAIR, JUST
AND APPLY EQUALLY TO EVERYONE.
MR SPEAKER, AS LEGISLATORS, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE LAWS; WE
IN BOUGAINVILLE NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE PERCEPTION AT NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT LEVEL THAT POLITICIANS SHOULD MANAGE PROJECTS. THIS IS
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE. OUR JOB IS TO MAKE LAWS
AND POLICIES THAT WILL ENABLE SUCH DEVELOPMENTS TO BE UNDERTAKEN
IN A CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT.
MR SPI;:AKER, THROUGHOUT OUR POLICITAL HISTORY, BOUGAINVILLEANS
HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO MANAGE THEIR OWN AFFAIRS. I BELIEVE THAT
THE BOUGAINVILLE PEACE AGREEMENT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
JUST THAT. WE HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE SOMETHING
COMPLETELY NEW AND BETTER FOR OUR PEOPLE - A HARMONIOUS,
,
PEACEFULL AND PROSPEROUS SOCIETYY FOR OUR PEOPLE; SOMETING THAT
CAN BE THE ENVY OF OUR FRIENDS AND OTHERS BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE
BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO IT.
MR SPEAKER, HOWEVER IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIRST HAVE FAITH IN
OURSELVES. WITHOUT FAITH, WE CANNOT REALISE THE HUMAN POTENTIAL
TO SUCCEED IN OUR COMMON ENDEAVOUR TO CREATE THE KIND OF
SOCIETY THAT WE WANT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
MR SPEAKER, BUT CREATING A HARMONIOUS, PEACEFULL AND PROSPEROUS
SOCIETY, IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY ALONE. THIS MUST BE
THE COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL BOUGAINVILLEANS. THIS IS
BECAUSE WE CHOSE TO BE IN THIS SITUATION, AND ONLY WE CAN GET
OURSELVES OUT OF IT. AS PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF OF LIBERIA
SAID DURING HER INNAUGURATION AS AFRICA'S FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT IN
FEBRUARY 2006, "THE FUTURE BELONGS TO US, BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN
CHARGE OF IT".
MR SPEAKER, BOUGAINVILLE'S FUTURE BELONGS TO BOUGAINVILEANS,
BECAUSE ONLY BOUGAINVILLEANS CAN HONESTLY CALL BOUGAINVILLE
HOME AND HAVE A FUTURE IN BOUGAINVILLE. BUT WE SHOULD LEARN TO
TRUST EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF FOREVER BEING SUSPICOUS OF EACH
OTHER. LET US ALL UNITE AS A NATION TO MAKE THE FUTURE A BETTER AND
BRIGHTER ONE FOR us ALL.
MR SPEAKER, I WISH TO CONCLUDE BY THANKING ALL BOUGAINVILLEANS
~
THROUGH YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE, FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN
2013 AND I LOOK FORWARD WITH EXCITEMENT TO ANOTHER BUSY YEAR FOR
ALL OF US. I WISH YOU A BELATED MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY, SAFE,
PEACEFULL AND PROSPEROOUS NEW YEAR 2014. MAY YOU ALL HAVE A
PLEASANT NEW YEAR BREAK, RE-ENERGISED TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN IN
2014.
GOD BLESS BOUGAINVILLE
HON DR CHIEF JOHN l MOMIS GCl, MHR
PRESIDENT

301213 NEW MEMBERS MAKE MAIDEN SPEECHES TO ABG HOUSE
By Aloysius Laukai

The five newly elected ABG members this morning gave their maiden speeches to the ABG House at the 2014 ABG BUDGET session.
The first to speak after they were called in to make their speeches was the member for LULE, FR. JOSEPH NABUAI who thanked the people of LULE for having faith in his leadership and mandating him to represent them in the next one and half year.
Then the re-elected member for KONGARA, DOMINIC ITTA made his presentation to parliament stating that his time out of Government was good as he learned a lot from the people during this time.
He said that the Government was far away from the people and this must be addressed so that the people have faith in their government.
The other re-elected member, THOMAS KERIRI also wanted the ABG members and Ministers to support the ABG to address issues of Marijuana and homebrew in the villages.
He said because the economic activities of cocoa and copra was not good the people were resorting to illicit drugs which must be addressed.
The newly elected member for Hagogohe, PETER SOHIA called on the members to start talking on the referendum process as it was getting close and nobody was talking about it.
And the new member for PEIT, JEROME TSIMOLI SAWA wanted some changes in his electorate.
In his maiden speech he called on the ABG to inject more funds to PEIT so that this last frontier can be developed.
He said the people of Peit were without a strong leader for a long time and this has resulted in his electorate being left far behind by other electorates on Bougainville.
MR. SAWA said he intends to change this in his short term in office.

Ends

301213 TASMAN ISLAND TO HARVEST SEA CUCUMBER
By Aloysius Laukai

The former ABG member for Atolls, TAEHU PAIS says that his people will harvest their Sea cucumber in the new year despite the extension of BECHE DEMER and other marine food ban that is in place throughout Papua New Guinea.
He told New Dawn FM in Buka that his people have suffered for so long due to this ban which does not serve the interest of the people of Atolls who rely heavily on marine products.
MR. PAIS said that the survey on marine seafood was carried on some parts of Bougainville and not the Atolls who still have these untapped resources.
He said the people of Atolls have no other means of making money and the ban by the Fisheries Department has put them below the poverty line.
MR. PAIS said that he has already written to the Fisheries Department concerning this matter but to date no response has been received from them.

Ends

301213ECONOMIC ACTIVITY PARAMOUNT BEFORE REFERENDUM
By Aloysius Laukai

The Autonomous Bougainville Government is trying to consolidate the Bougainville Peace Process by injecting funds on the Economic and Infrastructure development to prepare the people of Bougainville for the conduct of referendum.
ABG ministers for Finance, Planning and Treasury, ALBERT PUNGHAU made these remarks in his budget speech to the ABG House this morning.
He said that a substantial injection of funds into the budget based on the ABG Priorities will enable the people to have a real choice when the time comes for the conduct of the Referendum.
The Minister said that infrastructure development in all areas should support efforts being made throughout the region on Peace Building.
He said that from the 3rd tranche of the SPECIAL INTERVENTION FUNDS or ONE HUNDRED MILLION KINA should see many projects get off the ground however the challenge was with the ABG on how they will manage these funds so that many of these projects can be implemented.
New Dawn FM understands that many projects featured under the Special Intervention Fund are yet to be scoped for implementation.

Ends

301213ABG ADRRESES WEAPONS DISPOSAL
By Aloysius Laukai

The 2014 ABG Budget also looks at addressing, Economic Development, Peace and Security, Law and Justice ,Weapons Disposal, Human Development, Health and Education.
Funds are also being allocated for Rural Electrification, Water and Sanitation with a substantial amount going for the Sealing of roads, Feeder roads and shipping for the Atolls people who have been neglected for a long time.
These were announced by the ABG Minister for Finance, Planning and Treasury, ALBERT PUNGHAU this morning in his 2014 ABG BUDGET Speech at the ABG House.
He said that the National Government for the first time has allocated separate monies for the payment of salaries of Ministers and members of the House of Representatives through a new grant type called Other Service Delivery Function Grant totaling FIVE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE KINA.
MR. PUNGHAU said that the remaining balance of ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETEEN KINA will come from the Goods and Services grant.
He said that this will help the ABG utilize some funds on areas of priority which have been needing funding.

Ends

301213 FINANCE MINISTER TABLES 312 MILLION ABG BUDGET.
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG Minister for Finance, Planning and Treasury, ALBERT PUNGHAU this morning tabled the ABG 2014 BUDGET totaling THREE HUNDRED AND TWELVE MILLION KINA down by the SEVENTY SEVEN MILLION KINA from the 2013 ABG Budget.
The ABG Parliament this morning sat for the 2013 Budget presentation by the Minister for Finance, Planning and Treasury, ALBERT PUNGHAU and adjourned immediately after to allow members to properly study the budget and debate on it tomorrow morning before passing the budget tomorrow.
In his budget speech, Minister PUNGHAU highlighted three areas that the ABG has received funding for the 2014 budget.
The Three areas are funds from the National Government totaling, TWO HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT MILLION KINA.
Expected Internal Revenue of TWENTY ONE MILLION AND THREE HUNDRED KINA and unused funds from this year 2013.
Minister PUNGHAU said that the 2014 ABG Budget is about focusing on the people of the districts by addressing service delivery mechanisms which have hindered the flow of these services to the rural communities.
He said these will be addressed by increasing revenues and providing good facilities and infrastructures such as roads, schools and health facilities.
The 2014 ABG Budget will be passed by the ABG House of representatives tomorrow afternoon just before Bougainville moves into the festive mode to welcome 2014 as of midnight tomorrow.

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271213BOUGAINVILLE SOCCER PLAN LAUNCHED IN HAKU
By Aloysius Laukai
The ABG Minister for Community Development which covers, Women, Youth, Sports and Churches, MELCHIOR DARE officially accepted a plan to get Soccer on Bougainville into the next level at a small ceremony in Haku yesterday.
MR. DARE was in HAKU to open the Christmas and New Year Soccer Tournament at the LEMANMANU Parish organized by the Haku Sports Association.
Under the proposed plan delivered to the Minister by RUSSEL TSUGA a former Soccer Administrator, soccer on Bougainville will be managed by the Bougainville National Football(SOCCER) Association.
The Association will be headed by a Director, President, CEO and Finance officer and would have structures that goes into schools all over Bougainville.
Under this new plan Bougainville will develop its own players to play locally or even they can play in PNG and overseas.
The document will be tabled to the Bougainville Executive Council for approval before implementation.
Ends

271213 DARE PRAISES THE PEOPLE OF HAKU
By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG Minister for Community Development, MELCHIOR DARE yesterday praised the people of Haku for maintaining Peace and good order in their communities.
He said Haku had and continuous to have Intelligent people from the past and should also maintain this status.
MR. DARE was speaking at the Launch of the Haku Sports Association’s Christmas and New Year tournament.
The Minister said that HAKU although were located at the back of all constituencies on Buka island, it continues to be the driving force of all major Bougainville’s activities.
The local priest, FR. ANTHONY NAWATA also said that the Church and the people were working together to make sure that HAKU maintains its name on Bougainville.
The Haku Sports Association, Christmas and New Year tournament WILL NEXT Tuesday.

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281213POLICE THANKS CITIZENS
By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Police Service are thanking the people of Bougainville for a Peaceful Christmas throughout the region.

PSC for Buka police Station Sergeant EMMART TSIMES made these comments on New Dawn FM this afternoon.

In his live presentation on NEW DAWN FM this afternoon, MR TSIMES praised the people of Bougainville for observing Christmas peacefully.
He also called on them to continue this same spirit into the new year.

MR TSIMES also thanked the Bottleshop owners for honoring the liquor ban that is in place until 3rd January, 2014.

New Dawn FM will continue to carry out awareness's with authorities throughout the festive season to make sure Bougainville is safe and free for all to enjoy into 2014 and beyond.

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