NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

ABG Vice President, Patrick Nisira

Momis Announces Cabinet
Anthony Kaybing
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The President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Grand Chief Dr John Lawrence Momis has announced seven Members of the Bougainville House of Representatives to the Bougainville Executive Council.
The new Ministers join Vice President Patrick Nisira, who is the new Minister for Referendum, Peace, and Veterans Affairs on the BEC.
Six of the Ministers have been appointed under Section 81 (3) of the Bougainville Constitution on the Recommendations of the three Regional Committees of the House of Representatives with the seventh Minister being the nominee of the four women Members of the House unders Section 80 (1) (c).
The new Ministers are;
Hon. Albert Punghau (Motuna Huyono) Finance
Hon. Jacob Tooke (Baubake) Community Government
Hon. Nicholas Darku (North Nasioi) Primary Industries
Hon. Robin Wilson (Terra) Mining
Hon. Raymond Masono (Atolls) Public Service
Hon. Fidelis Semoso (Tsitalato) Economic Development
Hon. Josephine Getsi (Peit) Community Development

President Momis retains the Planning as well as Inter-government Relations Portfolios.
“As a result of these appointments, there are five Ministerial Portfolios yet to be filled, I expect to be in a position to announce the remaining Ministers later this week and I will also announce their portfolios,” President Momis said.
“While I have confidence in the talents of my new Ministers, I want to make it clear that I expect a high standard of performance from them,” President Momis said.
President Momis added that he has put each of his Ministers on notice and that he will review their performance after the new government’s first six months in office and that any Minister who has not performed to a satisfactory level will be removed.
The President said his next task will be to revitalize the Bougainville Public Service and to ensure it is lean and starts to work efficiently to carry out its prerogatives.
He said the Bougainville Public Service will undergo serious changes to its structure in an effort to save on costs and the mismanagement of public funds and government assets.
He offered that his government will clamp down on corruption and added that with his cabinet finalized the ABG will now move to give the best possible service to the people of Bougainville.

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170615 PENTANU HAPPY WITH MIRIKI’S PRESENTATION

By Aloysius Laukai

 

The incoming ABG speaker, SIMON PENTANU this afternoon praised the outgoing Speaker to have the courage and confidence in arranging today’s official handover/takeover ceremony.

 

MR. MIRIKI who was the first to congratulate SIMON PENTANU after he was elected this week said that he must do the handover ceremony to allow the incoming speaker to carry out his task with no disturbance.

 

When responding to MR. MIRIKIS’s brief, MR. PENTANU said that he was now in a better position of knowing his starting point as the new speaker.

 

He said that the report by the former Speaker gives him the knowledge and understanding of what he will face as the new Speaker for the ABG.

 

MR. PENTANU said that he will be meeting with the staff of the Parliamentary service this week to better understand how the Parliamentary has been operating over the years.

 

 

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 170615 HANDOVER PICTURES

170615 MIRIKI HANDS OVER TO PENTANU

By Aloysius Laukai

 

The outgoing  ABG Speaker for the last seven years, ANDREW MIRIKI this afternoon officially handed all office keys of the ABG Parliament house to the newly elected speaker, SIMON PENTANU.

The brief but very significant ceremony was witnessed by the Acting clerk, EDWIN KENEHATA and his deputy at the Speaker's office.

Before handing off the keys, MR. MIRIKI gave a full brief of what he had done and what he could not do in the last seven years.

He also outlined some programs that the new Speaker need to continue with example the Twinning arrangement between the New South Wales Parliament and the ABG house.

MR. MIRKI said that he was happy to handover to the new Speaker to continue with the work and also promised to support the speaker if he is needed.

He said that he was now packing up and would leave the Speaker's house in Kubu in four weeks to allow the new speaker to move and carry out his work.

New Dawn FM understands that this was are rare ceremony as most people leave office without handing over to the successor as they do not accept the change.

 

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Pictured are the two Speakers ANDREW MIRIKI and SIMON PENTANU in the Speaker's office yesterday.

Picture by Aloysius Laukai
 

090615 BOUGAINVILLE UNDER CARETAKER GOVERNMENT
By Aloysius Laukai in Buka

The re-elected ABG President, CHIEF DR. JOHN MOMIS today announced a caretaker cabinet that will be in place until a full cabinet is appointed next week.

In a brief ceremony at the ABG House of Representatives this morning, President Momis announced that his former deputy, PATRICT NISIRA will continue as his vice President and from the four women who were elected, the President appointed the new member for PEIT, JOSEPHINE SUREI GETSI as a member of the care taker Government.

The three were also sworn in by SENIOR MAGISTRATE BRUCE TASIKUL from the Buka District Court.

In his brief statement, President MOMIS re-iterated his earlier call for Bougainvilleans to work together for one common good that is the future of Bougainville.

He said that Bougainville has this unique opportunity that no other Province in Papua New Guinea has that is enshrined in the PAPUA NEW GUINEA constitution and that is to have this referendum that will decide the future status of Bougainville.

DR. MOMIS said that what Bougainvilleans, that is the government and the people must do is to contribute by making sure that all the three pillars under the Bougainville Peace Agreement are adhered to.

He said that Bougainville now use the remaining time to Referendum to work as a united people to make sure all outstanding issues are addressed.

The full ABG cabinet will be announced next Monday.

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090615MOMIS HONORS LOYALTY
By Aloysius Laukai/ML

The people of HALIA have been paid well for their loyalty to President, Chief DR. JOHN MOMIS.
This was evident in the announcement of the Vice President by DR. JOHN MOMIS at the ABG house this morning.
Despite very capable leaders being elected to the 3rd ABG House the appointment of PATRICK NISIRA was not a surprise to the people of HALIA and Bougainville as a whole.
According to those who were interviewed by New Dawn FM, in politics loyalty and trust is very important.
And they have praised DR. MOMIS for standing firm and appointing his loyal deputy to his old job.
They said that PATRICK NISIRA has proven himself in the last five years and his appointment is welcomed.

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080615WRITS RETURNED ON SCHEDULE
By Aloysius Laukai in Buka

The writs for the ABG 2015 General Elections were returned to the ABG Speaker, ANDREW MIRIKI by the Acting Electoral Commissioner, GEORGE MANU at the ABG house this afternoon.
When returning the writs, MR. MANU said that he was satisfied with the conduct of the trouble free election and he thanked all his Returning Officers and the Assistant Returning Officers for following instructions and delivering on time.
He said that under the ABG election schedule writs are to returned on JUNE 8th, and this is today is the 8th of June.
MR. MANU also called on the incoming ABG government to make sure they appoint a Permanent Electoral Commissioner to take charge of all election preparations.
He also thanked the ABG government for supporting the election process by providing sufficient funding to carry out the Bougainville elections.
MR MANU said that funding for the Election were released on the same day they opened the nominations there giving no time to really work on the common roll.
Meanwhile, the Speaker ANDREW MIRIKI when accepting, MR. MANU’s report thanked him for delivering on time.
He said that he was happy with the outcome of the election which was done under ABG’s own election laws.
MR. MIRIKI also announced that the first sitting of the new house will be at TEN AM Monday June 15th,2015.
The President will announce his Caretaker government tomorrow morning at 9AM.

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070615 ALL SEATS DECLARED
By Aloysius Laukai

Electorate Leading Last Update Status
President
John Lawrence Momis 6 Jun9:00 am DECL
North Bougainville Woman
Francesca Semoso 7 Jun12:15 pm DECL
North Bougainville Former Combatant
Ben Malatana Korus 7 Jun2:30 pm DECL
Atolls
Raymond Jonathan Masono 5 Jun12:37 am DECL
Hagogohe
Robert Hamal Sawa 3 Jun4:15 am DECL
Haku
Robert Chika Tulsa 1 Jun10:00 am DECL
Halia
Patrick Nisira 2 Jun5:00 am DECL
Mahari
John Tabinaman 3 Jun7:05 am DECL
Nissan
Charry Napto Kiso 2 Jun9:50 pm DECL
Peit
Josephine Getsi 2 Jun7:15 pm DECL
Selau
Joseph Watawi 3 Jun11:15 pm DECL
Suir
Luke Karaston 4 Jun7:40 pm DECL
Taonita Teop
Raopos Apou Tepaia 1 Jun9:10 pm DECL
Taonita Tinputz
David Braun Vatavi 30 May5:00 am DECL
Teua
Charles Kakapetai 2 Jun1:22 am DECL
Tonsu
Ezekiel Masatt 4 Jun1:30 pm DECL
Tsitalato
Fidelis Semoso 30 May2:00 am DECL
Central Bougainville Woman
Marcelline Kokiai 6 Jun3:01 am DECL
Central Bougainville Former Combatant
Noah Doko 6 Jun4:30 am DECL
Eivo/Torau
Clarence Dency 1 Jun10:05 am DECL
Ioro
Michael Lapolela 3 Jun3:40 pm DECL
Kokoda
Rodney Osioco 30 May1:12 am DECL
Kongara
Dominic Itta 30 May10:24 am DECL
North Nasioi
Nicholas Darku 4 Jun1:55 am DECL
Rau
Thomas Keriri 5 Jun6:01 pm DECL
South Nasioi
Simon Oriai Dasiona 31 May5:40 am DECL
Terra
Robin Wilson 1 Jun11:05 am DECL
South Bougainville Woman
Isabel Peta 4 Jun12:30 am DECL
South Bougainville Former Combatant
Thomas Tarii 4 Jun12:30 am DECL
Baubake
Jacob Tooke 2 Jun1:10 pm DECL
Bolave
Dennis Alexman Lokonai 31 May6:30 am DECL
Konnou
Willie Louis Mariki Masiu 3 Jun10:15 am DECL
Kopii
Philip Kuhena 2 Jun1:10 pm DECL
Lato
Christopher Kena 1 Jun9:15 am DECL
Lule
Joseph Kangki Nabuai 2 Jun6:20 pm DECL
Makis
John Vianney Kepas 2 Jun1:10 pm DECL
Motuna/Huyono/Tokunutui
Albert Punghau 1 Jun9:25 am DECL
Ramu
Thomas M Pataaku 2 Jun1:10 pm DECL
Torokina
Steven Suako 30 May1:45 am DECL
Baba
William Silamai 1 Jun9:20 am DECL

070615 COUNTING COMPLETE
By Aloysius Laukai in Buka
COUNTING for the 2015 ABG General Elections is now complete after the declarations of the last two seats, North Regional seats for women and former combatants today.
The North regional former combatants seat was won by a unkonwn Mr Ben Malatan Korus from Eltupan village, Buka island.
His winning final figures were 13, 731 votes whilst the runner up was Mr Francis Boisivere who scored 11, 868 votes. He was leading this seat for a long time until he succumbed to Ben Malatan.
In the north regional women seat, Ms Francisca Semoso was declared winner defeating Hellen Siumana after the eighth exclusion.
Ms Semoso polled13, 627 votes whilst Hellen Siumana collected 13, 111 votes.
Hellen Siumana had been leading the race since the primary counts until the eight exclusion when Ms Semoso overtook her to claim the North Bougainville women’s seat.
Ms Semoso won this seat in the 2005 Elections but lost to Elizabeth Burain in 2010.
Meanwhile the Central Region former combatants’ seat was won by Noah Doko.
The Central Region women’s seat was won by Marcelline Kokiai.
The acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, Mr George Manu will be returning the writs to ABG Speaker Andrew Miriki at the ABG parliament chamber at 4pm.
The return of writs will mark the completion of the 2015 ABG General Elections.

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