NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

300615BUKA/HOSKINS
By Tom Kathoa

AND TO END THE BULLETIN,
The National flag carrier, Air Niugini has resumed its flights into Hoskins Airport in West New Britain this week.

The airline suspended its flights into Hoskins, West New Britain following the washing away of a bridge that links the province’s capital, Kimbe with the Hoskins Airport early this year.

This temporary closure of the airport resulted in people wanting to go Kimbe to travel by sea.

For Bougainvilleans, it meant money for the region’s ship, the M.V. Chebu.

Ends…

300615DANGEROUS MINING
By Tom Kathoa

Small gold mining operations by the local people particularly the landowners is not only a good business, but is also a risky and dangerous business.

Many people involved in alluvial mining are not aware of the dangers associated with this type of mining.

Concerned leader, Patrick Haromate told New Dawn that while miners get good money for their work, people must also be made aware of the dangers of such and industry.

He clarified that the dangerous part of this industry is on the side of the miners themselves because they directly exposed to toxic acids from chemicals like mercury.

Because of lack of knowledge on the dangers of these chemicals, people do not wear protective and safety gears to protect them from being infected.

He said the waste created by these local alluvial miners is much higher than that of big mining companies operating in the country.

The harm or side effects from direct contact and exposure to mercury and other chemicals include deformed babies, twisted limbs and other defects on people.

There are reports that the Arawa General Hospital has seen some cases that could be linked to chemical exposure.

The ABG government should carry out a vigorous awareness on this matter as more people are now turning to alluvial mining for quick money.

Ends…

300615FLYIN FLYOUT PS
By Tom Kathoa

A former senior public servant claims some public servants in Bougainville are costing the government a lot of money on accommodation, hire care and airfares.

Mr. Patrick Haromate says certain public servants have the habit of flying in and flying out of Bougainville regularly thus costing the government a lot of money.

He said money spend on such officers is money that could be spent on projects that would benefit the majority of Bougainvilleans.

And, he has called on the head of the Bougainville Administration to tighten up on such unfruitful spending.

Ends

300615LOOKOUT FOR BODY
By Tom Kathoa

People living along the coast particularly on the Atolls are asked to keep a lookout for the bodies of two people believed dead from a boat mishap at the weekend.

Head of the Bougainville Disaster and Emergency Office, Franklyn Lessie says the search for the missing two is still on and coastal people have been asked to report any sighting of bodies to his office.

Mr. Lessie said eight adults and an infant were travelling to Carter Island on a 23foot banana boat over the weekend when they encountered troubled.

The mother and her 18 months baby managed to swim ashore and while other five also survived with another two yet to be accounted for.

Meanwhile, MR. Lessie has strongly urged boat owners and their operators to have on board safety equipments like, lifejackets, paddle, mirror, water containers, canvas and other necessary items before taking to sea.

Mr. Lessie said safety and the lives passengers must be priority number one on the minds of boat owners and their operators.

Making quick money should not be on the top list, but the safety of passengers.

Ends

300615NEPOTISM HIGH
By Tom Kathoa

The problems facing the Bougainville Administration is due nepotism and the employment of unqualified officers by the government.

Former Public Servant, Patrick Haromate when commenting on President Momis’ tough stand against laziness and the abuse of government asset by public servants said there are many contributing factors to this situation that needs to be fixed immediately.

He named nepotism, unqualified and stealing of certificates as the cause of all this.

On nepotism, Mr Haromate said this has become a cultured in the workforce where fathers, brothers and relatives employ their very own kind.

The young workers consist of officers recruited not on qualification and experience, but just education. He further added that some have degrees, diploma or certificates that are not theirs but stolen from other people.

On this, he is asking the Human Resource Office to make quality check on such papers with the Office of Higher Education and the Education Department to determine to validity and genuine ownership of such papers.

Mr. Haromate said this form of corruption must identified, tackled and put to rest at its earliest possible.

Ends

300615RESTRAINING ORDER
By Tom Kathoa

A restraining court order now in place prevents any new developments from taking place within the town boundaries.

The restraining order was issued by the Buka District Court last week stops developers from engaging in any new activity on land known as IETA which covers areas from Kukul to the end of Buka Town.

Most affected are new building constructions and expansion of buildings and business activities.

It also prevents developers from entering into any new agreements with the Ieta Chiefs or individuals.

The three months restraining order is a result of failure by the landowners and Ieta Chiefs to honor the court’s order.

A copy of the 1997 court decision among others says that any development within the land in question must be for the benefit of all the people and not just a few.

It further states that the two main clans establish an authority to ensure developmental activities that take place on the land is the wishes of all the people and for their betterment.

It stresses harmonious living, sharing of all benefits, and working together as one people.

This order is only for a three months period.

Ends…………

290615 INSTABILITY VERSES INVESTMENT
By Tom Kathoa

Bougainville will not achieve its dreams and objectives of becoming a self governing region if people continue to hold on to fire arms and cause disturbance to the general and business community.
This is the view of all leaders and concerned Bougainvilleans.
While, peace and stability has been fully restored in most parts of Bougainville, there is still concern in some pockets of unruly behavior by a small number or group of people.
Leaders are appealing to such people to refrain from these illegal activities, because their actions are a threat to investor confidence.
Such behavior would only scare potential foreign investors from coming to do business here.
Bougainville badly needs the business community to grow because it is through them that the government is able to collect taxes to fund its projects.
Increased business activities in the region also provide jobs and employment for our many young people who are at present unemployed.
The leadership of the region is calling on the young people to join in the effort to free Bougainville of weapons and create a conducive environment to foreigners to come and do business here.

Ends

290615FIRST DELIVERY
By Tom KATHOA

The Member for Hagogohe Constituency, Hon. Robert Hamal Sawa says his visit service delivery to his people is the supply of waters tanks.
Member Sawa announced that a shipment of some seventy (70) water tanks is expected to arrive soon, and would be delivered to his people.
He said each of the seven Village Assemblies would receive 10 tanks each that would then be distributed among the people in these villages.
He said another program his office is working on is the opening of the Suhin Health Center that has not been attended to for five years.
Mr. Sawa wants the opening of the Health Center to coincide with the government’s first one-hundred days in office.
During his election campaign, the member openly told people that his first assignment as their member is to open the health center with an Ambulance.
And, he said he would not back out this and would make sure this official opening program goes ahead.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sawa has appealed to the people of Hagogohe to rise above politics and support his administration and the election result has shown.
He is also asking losing candidates and their supporters to forget what happened during the campaign period and join hands for the betterment of the constituency and the region as a whole.
Ends

290615 REGIONAL MINISTERS
By Tom Kathoa

Central Bougainville was allocated the lowest number of two ministries in this new ABG government.
Both North and South Bougainville were given six ministries each with the two most senior positions of President and Vice President also going to these two regions.
South Bougainville ministers are being lead by the President, Hon. Dr. Chief John Momis with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury also going their way.
The North Bougainville Regional Ministers are lead by the Member for Halia and Vice President, Hon Patrick Nisira.
The only two ministers for Central Bougainville are, Nicholas Daku who is Minister for Primary Industry (DPI) and Robin Wilson who holds the mining portfolio.
The only woman cabinet minister is the Member for PEIT in North Bougainville who is the minister for Community Development.
Meanwhile, the statement by the president that ministers have been given six months to perform or face the axe of being replaced COULD be a mere talk to please the people of Bougainville and is yet to be seen.
President Momis also issued a similar warning to public servants to perform or tender their resignations because, he says his government would not tolerate slackness and laziness in the public service.
Ends

290615TWO STILL MISSING
By Aloysius Laukai​

Six passengers from the ill-fated boat that went missing on the way to Cartrets islands have survived whilst two are still missing.

The Bougainville Disaster Coordinator, FRANKLYN LACEY just reported to New Dawn FM five minutes ago stating that boat capsized in rough seas whilst they were trying to refuel their boat.

He said that the mother and her baby swam to Iangain island and also other passengers were rescued early this morning.

Still missing is the skipper and one other passenger and rescue teams are still looking for them this morning.

The Helicopter search was also cancelled.

Ends