NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

290715USA HAPPY WITH ABG
By Tom Kathoa

Head of the United States of America Aid Assistance to the Pacific Region, Richard Edwards says he is happy to working together with the ABG Government on its program.

Mr. Edwards said the Bougainville Womens’ Technical Working Group met to assess the progress in achieving its objectives on Women, Peace and Security.

The United States has made available One point five million US dollar for women in the Pacific Region over a two year period.

He said the United States strongly supports empowering women to become effective peace makers, community leaders, and champions of civil human rights.

He said he is happy to work with the ABG government, civil society organizations and other development partners to improve the prospects of sustainable peace, security and development in Bougainville.

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290715 PHILIP OBITS
By Tom KATHOA

Staffs of New Dawn Fm station are mourning the loss of one of their colleague member who passed away at the Buka General Hospital last night or early this morning Bougainville time.

The late, Phillip Kobua died from injuries he sustained after falling from a tree at the weekend.

Staff members refused to believe the bad news of their colleague’s departure from them and their favorite station New Dawn Fm.

The station was flooded with messages of condolences from those who knew Kobua expressing their sorrow for his sudden departure.

These messages came from people like Keith Jackson a well-known radio personality from Australia and from as far as the United States and England.

Meanwhile, as a sign of respect the management had to suspend the morning broadcast to this afternoon while staff members contributed food to the family and relatives.

Staff members pass on their condolence to the immediate family, relatives of the deceased and also to Bossman/meri, Laukai and family.

We assure you, that we are all with you in this time of grief and sorrow.

May, the resurrection power of the good Lord also resurrect him up to Heaven.

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280715PRISONERS REHAB CENTE
By Tom KATHOA

Prisoners at the Bekut Jail outside Buka Town, now have more freedom to move around thanks…..to the initiative of both the police and Correctional Service.

Austin Kamuno of Buka Police station revealed that under a new rehabilitation program prisoners are allowed to do community work during the day and return to the jail in the afternoon.

The aim of the rehabilitation program is to make the prisoners feel as part of the community and not outcasts.

Mr. Kamuno is urging members of the community where the prisoners are attached to support them and share whatever they have with them in terms of food and water.

Meanwhile, our reporter says such a program has already been trialed and proven successful in other centers of Papua New Guinea.

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280715SASALAN HIKUMA ON
By Tom KATHOA

Meanwhile, the Member for Hagogohe Constituency, Hon Robert Hamal Sawa told his people that the Sasalan Hikuma Festival would be held this year.

Mr. Sawa says the festival has created great impact on the peoples’ lives and it is one way of uniting the people not of his constituency, but all throughout the region.

The festival involves traditional dances, the famous bamboo band, choirs and dramas.

It is normally held towards the end of every year about December.

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280715STRONGER POLICE FORCE
By Tom Kathoa

Bougainville is aiming for a stronger police force according to the ABG President, Hon. Dr. Chief John Momis.

The president reiterated his earlier call for an effective and stronger police force to effectively maintain law and order in the region.

President Momis told a group young police officers that law and order is among his government’s top priority and that calls for dedicated law enforcers into the system.

The president also wants offices of the Public Prosecutors and State Solicitors established in the region.

He said outsiders would be reluctant to come to Bougainville if the law and order situation is not contained by the police service.

The progress of Bougainville and its people depends very much on the law and order situation, and police being at the front should take a decisive lead on this matter.

People should be allowed to walk and move around freely without fear of being harassed.


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289715OWN IT SAYS MOMIS
By Tom Kathoa

Graduating students from any educational or training institutions throughout Papua New Guinea should be proud of their individual achievements.

ABG President, Hon Dr. Chief John Momis when addressing a group of 40 young men and women police officers urged them to own and treasure the wards presented to them be it certificates, diplomas, degrees or masters.

These paper awards are the pathways to individuals’ prosperity and for the progress of a nation or region as in the case of Bougainville.

The 40 police recruits graduated after a six months intensive training conducted with the assistance from our friends, Australia and New Zealand police forces.

President Momis in congratulating the new officers challenged them to go by the book in maintaining law and order in the community.

Bougainville needs more dedicated police men and women to help the ABG government in maintaining law and order in the region.

As the region enters into a new era all citizens must respect the rule of law and it requires the commitment of police men and women to enforce this.

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270715VOTE OF A LIFETIME
By Tom Kathoa

The Referendum vote by the people of Bougainville would be one of the most important and significant political event to occur in the short history of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea.

And all Bougainvilleans who would be aged 18 years and above at the time this vote taken would be making a choice of a lifetime.

In his brief explanation on the referendum vote, Member for Tonsu, Hon. Ezekiel Masat said the referendum election is not the same as the other ABG or National Government elections conducted after every five years.

The referendum election is conducted only once and therefore it is very important that those eligible to vote do so when the time comes, because it is very important that they participate in this election as it would determine the future of Bougainville.

Mr. Masat said because it is an election of a lifetime, Bougainvilleas should take it very seriously by attending awareness campaigns and taking part in any other forums where the referendum and independence are discussed.

The general public must be well informed of these issues so as to make an informed choice when it is due.

The Member for Tonsu and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee was speaking at Poposoko Village after witnessing the Thanks giving mass for his colleague member for Hagogohe, Robert Hamas Sawa yesterday.

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270715SERVICE RESTORED
By Tom Kathoa

Continuous power blackouts has forced some companies to temporarily shut down their operations, loose business or go out of business altogether.

Radio Communication is one such organization that has been greatly affected by power blackouts in recent times.

Listeners of Bougainville’s favorite radio stations, New Dawn FM and NBC, from parts of Central and South Bougainville were not able to pick up the signals because of damaged equipment at the transmitter site at Kubu.

But, the good news is that, this fault has now been rectified and listeners can now enjoy listening to these two radio stations.

Radio Communications is very important more so at this time of Bougainville’s progress towards referendum and independence.

Communication plays a very vital role in disseminating information and entertainment to the population of Bougainville.

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270715PAY WHERE
By Tom Kathoa

Polling officials and service providers of the recent ABG Elections are still at a loss as to when they would be paid their dues.

Kevin Kavia who presided over polling in the Torokina District voiced their concern over the long delay by the Electoral Commission and the government in settling their payments.

Mr. Kavia said his life and government property at Torokina are being targeted by disgruntled unpaid workers and service providers.

They say the wait has been too long and called on the Electoral Commissioner and the ABG government to come out publicly and tell them of the situation instead of being left in the dark.

Our reporter has also been approached by people from other parts of the region that are in the same situation as those at Torokina.

Meanwhile, attempts to talk to the electoral commission has been unsuccessful.

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270715IMPROVED ROAD MORE ACCIDENTS
BY Tom Kathoa

The general public in Bougainville does not realize the number of traffic accidents as a result of the improved road system.

The careless attitude by some drivers by ignoring traffic rules is a major factor to the increase number of road accidents.

Many road users, particularly drivers think that a good road is meant for speeding, when in fact it is to protect vehicles from wear and tear and the breakdown of vehicles under rough road conditions.

Putting bitumen on the road saves two purposes, for safe travel and to protect vehicles from frequent damages.

Our reporter who lives up the Buka Ring Road says vehicles now a day are travelling at extraordinary high speeds during both day and night.

Speeding by drivers is very dangerous and is already causing fear among parents of children who live along the roadside.

The majority of people live along the road and drivers should take more care when using the roads.

Two people have been admitted to the Buka General Hospital at the weekend as a result of good road and excessive speeding.

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