NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

121118CLEANUP CONTINUES
New Dawn FM News
The ABG Chief Secretary, JOSEPH NOBETAU today released names of ten Public servants that were dismissed from the Bougainville Public service last Friday.
In making the announcement, MR. NOBETAU said that the decision to dismiss these officers was not taken lightly but was taken as a last resort.
He said the decision to dismiss an officer has much more implications, not just on the individual themselves, but also their families.
However as the head of the Public service he could not tolerate actions that defraud the government t or undermine the important work that we do.
The Chief Secretary said that as Public servants all of us must project a professional image and all of us have an obligation to comply with the law.
He said those who steal do not steal from the government, but from the people of Bougainville and they must be held accountable.
MR. NOBETAU said that these officers that have been dismissed were implicated in significant misconduct.
He said that seven officers from the Department of Personal Management and administrative services were found through the ABG payroll audit to have manipulated systems and processes for personal gain.
Collectively these individuals stole more than THREE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND KINA from the public purse.
He said that this was a blatant theft and was undertaken for personal gain.
The chief Secretary said such actions cannot go un-punished and he also confirmed that he has referred all officers implicated to the national fraud squad for investigation.
He said that he expects that those responsible will be prosecuted, if found guilty and should be held to the highest standards of criminal law.
MR. NOBETAU also said that three officers from the Department of Community Government have also been dismissed owing to a substantial fraud where large sums of monies were misappropriated from the Disaster trust fund.
Again these matters have been referred to the Police for further investigations.

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051118UPDATE ON BOUGAINVILLE PUBLIC SERVICE
New Dawn FM News
Chief Secretary to the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Joseph Nobetau today released the latest quarterly update report on the public service.
The report notes a number of areas where the public service has made progress. These include:
* Referendum preparations, including the question, the voting criteria, awareness and establishment of the BRC;
* Continued efforts to address peace and stability, including work on weapons disposal, reconciliation and dialogue with national and international partners;
* Public sector reform, including work to align priorities to the Strategic Development Plan, establishment of the Policy and Planning Unit, and proposals to restructure current departmental arrangements;
* Work to promote good governance, including progressing the finalisation of experts reports for the Second Joint Review of Autonomy Arrangements, reform of the SMC and the promotion of best practice;
* Initiatives to enhance economic development, investment, taxation reform and management of government owned businesses;
* Work to address corruption, including audits, investigations, referrals to the Ombudsman Commission, the BSAC and the police;
* Strengthened engagement with our key partners; and
* Enhanced support to District offices.
Nevertheless, the Chief Secretary noted that a number of challenges remain. These include the need to strengthen institutional linkages, ongoing funding constraints and the need for more effective evidenced based policy development and planning.
“The ABG Public Service has made some good progress, and I am pleased to see this. However, the fact is that the public service needs to be more responsive to government, more strategically focused on service delivery and more accountable to the people of Bougainville”, the Chief Secretary said.
A key focus over the coming six months will be supporting the referendum on Bougainville’s long-term political future which is scheduled to take place in June of next year.
“We must ensure that both the National Government and the ABG are engaged in the referendum process and supporting the Bougainville Referendum Commission to do its job”, Mr Nobetau said.
Mr Nobetau also noted the need for continued engagement with the National Government on constitutionally guaranteed grants and other aspects associated with the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
“Without funding it is not possible to deliver on the key priorities of the Government. It is essential that the issue of arrears owed under the Restoration and Development Grant be resolved as soon as possible”, the Chief Secretary said.
These issues, and others, will be considered when the Joint Supervisory Body next meets in January of next year.

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050617ABG PUBLIC SERVICE LAUNCHES CORPORATE PLAN
By Aloysius Laukai
The ABG Chief Secretary, JOSEPH NOBETAU wants all public servants on the ABG payroll to work for their money.
Speaking at the Launching of the ABG Public Service Corporate Plan at the Hutjena Secondary School hall last Friday, MR. NOBETAU, said that all ABG Public servants must work and not stay at home and get paid.
He said that many public servants were on the payroll but not at the work place.
MR. NOBETAU said that these people were stealing from the ABG and the taxpayers of Bougainville.
He said those days of getting paid for nothing are over and he would like to get rid of such public servants to instil credibility and discipline to the young Bougainville Public service machinery.
MR. NOBETAU also thanked those departments who presented their corporate plans to their ministers for their co-operation.
Departments that completed and presented their plans were, The Department of President and BEC, TREASURY AND FINANCE, MINERAL RESURCES, LANDS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT, HEALTH, PEACE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION, JUSTICE, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DPI.
For those who are yet to complete their plans are asked to complete theirs and present them to the Government as soon as possible.
The chief secretary said that the Corporate plans launched are foundational documents, they contain what each departments need to do to ensure that they deliver effective services.
They charter course and provide the accountability framework that we can use to report, measure and assess our progress.
Each plan articulates a vision and each Department’s key priorities but the development of the plans is just a beginning and the challenge for departments is turning these plans into actions.
He challenged all departments to ensure that these documents do not just sit and collect dusts on shelves but, must be used effectively as living documents that guide each Department’s work.

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Pictured is MR. JOSEPH NOBETAU by Aloysius Laukai

ABG Secretary Removed.

Anthony Kaybing

310517

The Autonomous Bougainville Government has removed its Secretary for Department of Presonnel Management and Administration, Paul Kebori after several allegations of misconduct were levelled against him.

Chief Secretary to the ABG Joseph Nobetau said that On Wednesday, 24 May 2017, he delivered a petition to Mr President Momis, in his capacity as Chair of the Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee.

“I asked that the allegations to be investigated and, if substantiated, that appropriate disciplinary action be taken against the officer concerned,” Mr Nobetau said.

Under the Bougainville Constitution and the Bougainville Senior Appointments Act 2014, responsibility for dealing with disciplinary matters involving constitutional and senior officers rests with the Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee.

This is to ensure that the process is fair and impartial, and free of political interference. Where allegations of misconduct are raised against a senior officer, the Committee is required to follow strict procedures.

If the Committee considers that the allegations should be investigated, it must appoint a board of inquiry to conduct the investigation and report back. If the board of inquiry is satisfied that misconduct has occurred, there are range of punishment options available to the Committee, including removal from office.

“I understand that the Senior Appointments Committee has provided Mr Kebori with a copy of my petition, and invited him to the respond to the allegations against him,” Nobetau said.

“This is the first step. Mr Kebori has not been suspended – there is no power to suspend at this stage – a senior officer can only be suspended by the Senior Appointments Committee once it decides to appoint a board of inquiry,” Nobetau added.

“People will be curious to know the details of the allegations set out in my petition, but it would not be fair to Mr Kebori for those details to be made public at this stage, the formal procedures should be allowed to take their course. It should be sufficient for me to say that I found the allegations very concerning, requiring me to take this action,” Nobetau said.

“As the Chief Secretary, I will not tolerate corruption and misconduct within the Bougainville Public Service. Bougainvilleans are entitled to expect the highest standards of integrity from their public servants,” he said.

Mr Nobetau has now made a call on any person with evidence of misconduct on the part of any public servant to come forward so that appropriate action can be taken in his efforts to rid the public service of corruption.

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Reporting Process for the ABG

Anthony Kaybing

130217



Since the inception of the Autonomous Bougainville Government there have been numerous development plans that have not come into fruition.

While many of these plans have been well laid out they lacked further development due to incapacitation issues in the Bougainville Administration to carry them out to a successful end.

Chief Secretary to the ABG Joseph Nobetau said that he has reviewed many of these plans and has come to the conclusion that though these plans were well-formed they lacked action after their development.

“This problem is not unique only to Bougainville and I do not want to detract from the important work many of our dedicated public servants have undertaken in the past,” Nobetau said.

“Rather, I see the need for the Bougainville Public Service to build on that former planning work in undertaking new corporate and strategic planning so that we can measure and asses our success,” he said.

Nobetau further stated that it was not enough to develop a plan in and of itself; the public service needed to move past the development and launch phase of the planning process to the implementation phase to prove its worth to the government and the people of Bougainville.

Mr Nobetau also revealed that in the coming months a new formal reporting process to the government will be implemented that allows the administration to measure and asses the success of the public service in meeting key corporate and strategic planning goals.

As it stands the reporting process will be divided into four key quadrants; Budget and Financial Management, Civil Society, Peace and Law and Order, Social Services (Health, education etc) and Economic Development, Growth and Infrastructure.

The aim of the reporting process will be to document activities and actions that seek to address and meet the priorities of the government, it will also act as a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that allows for improvement.

“I firmly believe that 2017 will be a year of transformation for the public service and I ask all Bougainville Public Servants to join with me as we embark on this exciting journey to make Bougainville the Black Pearl of the Pacific as she truly is,” Nobetau encouraged.





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Nobetau Encourages Youths

 

Anthony Kaybing

151216

Bougainville’s future remains on the veracity of its young generation as it stands to engage the future and the global community.

ABG Chief Secretary Joseph Nobetau has encouraged youths to play a role in Bougainville’s future.  

“You are not tarnished by history or prejudice – your journey is just beginning, as young people you each have a role in writing part of our future,” he said.

“You have the opportunity to take on leadership roles and help building a stronger, united and more prosperous future for all, you can do this regardless of the path that you chose to take, whether as young corporate leaders, public servants, community leaders, academics, members of your church and so on,” he said.

Nobetau said that by committing to a collective future the youths can play an important role and he was confidence that they would make a very significant contribution.

“Ask yourself what you have done to demonstrate leadership and ask yourself what you can do in the future, the world is very much your oyster and I encourage all of you to be creative and to explore all possible opportunities,” he said.

“Leadership itself can mean many things, it comes from within and each of you here today have already demonstrated leadership through your scholarly work and your commitment to your education,” he added

“As you can see, leadership is not something that is static – it is based on individuals taking responsibility for others with the intention of helping them to learn, improve and grow. 

As each of you embark on your next chapter, whether that be going to university, undertaking additional training, or joining the workforce you too will need to show leadership.  

This requires maturity and self-awareness and an ability to channel the skills and knowledge that you have gained in your school years to make a difference, whether that be by improving yourself, helping your family and friends or contributing to a broader goal.  

Each of you have the capacity to lead and I encourage all of you to look within to examine what leadership roles you can take on in the future.  

As young Bougainvilleans I have faith that all of you will make a very significant contribution. 

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ABG Chief Sec ready to move

Anthony Kaybing

151216

As the period for the referendum draws near the Autonomous Bougainville Government is working diligently to secure a successful outcome of this important political decision.

The ABG Chief Secretary, Joseph Nobetau said that his priorities are to build the capacity of the Public Service so that it can deliver on the expectations of the government and the people.

“My aim is to show leadership in reforming our institutions and structures so that we can make Bougainville stronger and lay the foundation for our future, whatever state that may end up being once we have the referendum,” Mr Nobetau.

“Since taking on this important role I have been meeting with Department Heads to discuss some of the key challenges that we face,” he added.

The discussions included how to improve the administration’s finances, build on development initiatives to deliver real outcomes; increase levels of investment; enhance and build key enabling infrastructure; and build more information and communication channels.

A key part of all of the discussions is education and ensuring that the ABG lays the foundations for building better leaders of tomorrow.

“By working together and ensuring we align resources to deliver effective development outcomes we will be better placed to meet the President’s very clear expectations and deliver on the Bougainville Peace Agreement,” Mr Nobetau said.

Nobetau said that this was essential as the Agreement and the mandated outcomes will form the basis of Bougainville’s future.

Nobetau also recognised the need for financial and budget autonomy and the ongoing negotiation with the National Government on fiscal and grant based arrangements and reform.

“We must recognize that our current financial position means we must do more with less, and embracing reform and change to build our capacity to deliver on Government expectations,: he said.

“We have to enhance our capacity to build a sustainable revenue stream so that we can fund services in the future,” he added.

Nobetau said that government has made efforts to ensuring that it maintains ongoing efforts to give effect to weapons disposal.

The administration was also enhancing opportunities for sustainable long term economic development, institutional leadership and corporate reform and public sector accountability.

The other important areas it would look into were improving law and order, building and maintaining trust in the implementation of change and building on service delivery initiatives in critical areas including health, education, and public infrastructure.

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080116KEBORI SAYS REPORT TO DEPARTMENTS
By Aloysius Laukai

The Acting Chief Secretary for Bougainville, PAUL KEBORI today called on the Bougainville Public Servants to report to their Departmental heads and not the office of the Chief Secretary.

Speaking at the Dedication service in Hutjena this morning, MR. KEBORI said that the Bougainville Public Service structure of reporting is through the individual departmental heads.

MR. KEBORI said that this was the channel of communication to be followed to report through their departments and their Ministers.

He said him as the Chief Secretary is answerable to the office of the President and the Bougainville Executive Council.

On the dedication service, MR. KEBORI said that it was a good start for the public servants to meet and pray together to start the 2016.

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Newdawn Pic of Paul Kebori

CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEAR TS AND OUR HOMES-24December,2015

Over the years, we have experienced from childhood to adulthood that the joys of Christmas differ from that of any other occasion. No matter what our situation in life is, it is always overwhelmed by the spirit of Christmas. It puts a smile on the saddest face, it brings together families who are torn apart by animosity, and the sick even try to be healed, not wanting to be on the sickbed on Christmas day, the family provider always finds ways and means to make available food on the table, but above all Christmas drives everyone to be generous. Everyone is extra nice to everyone they meet. The Christmas spirit melts and overcomes even the hardest heart.

For us Christians, Christmas is when God becomes man; the Creator becomes a creature like us and the Almighty becomes powerless. God displays humility and mercy. He even opts for His son to be born in a manger instead of a castle, wrapped in swaddling clothes instead of a rich wardrobe worthy of a King. And to lay witness to his birth are the shepherds and the animals. Christmas is a time of great joy as we welcome into our hearts and our homes into our villages and towns, the Word Incarnate who comes to affirm us as we are, by “pitching his tent amongst us and becoming one of us”.

Paradoxically, Christmas is also the time when our own transformation and empowerment take root. It is a unique time when our human redemption is promulgated when our Redeemer is born of a human mother, the Virgin Mary and thanks to the Paschal Mystery (passion, death and resurrection) we are not only liberated but we are also enabled to share God’s life and empowered to participate in the mission of Christ to build the Kingdom of God in our midst by working for the transformation of society and the world based on the values of the Kingdom; namely 10 commandments etc

Fellow Bougainvilleans, I bring this message of hope and good tidings during this festive season. Indeed Christmas is a time for us to look into ourselves and reflect on its real meaning. Christmas starts with Christ. The early missionaries brought to us and our Melanesian culture the faith that has kept Christ alive in our hearts and our homes. Our recognition and acceptance of Christ in our lives have strengthened our resolve to live our lives to the fullest each day of the year. We, the people of Bougainville have gone through a lot of trials and sufferings but we were not deterred; nor did we crumble and surrender to these challenges. Instead, because we kept our sight on Christ we have persevered and will continue to do so as we all train our eyes and follow the road to full Autonomy and eventually our independence.

Our decision to be autonomous is a privilege that you and I must guard and uphold. It is an opportunity given only to us and nowhere else in the Southern Hemisphere. Let this honour not slip through our grip or we shall lose everything we have dreamed and aspired for not only for us today but also for the future generation we may not even live to see.

Christmas brings out in every person the spirit of giving and not so much of receiving. The Father by giving his Son to mankind has served as a model for us to do the same. Christmas drives and encourages us to give. More so, Christmas teaches us to be humble. In this same spirit, I call on you to give in all humility what you can to Bougainville.
 I ask you to give your unconditional support in our efforts to create public and community awareness of the gains of autonomy and eventually our independence.
 I ask you to give and lend your voice in denouncing all forms of corruption and mishandling of public funds.
 I ask you to give your unwavering commitment in your own small way to dismantle and undo all forms of barricades to unity.
 I ask you to give your time to teach your children and families the value of respect for the rule of law and due process.
 I ask you to give your contribution to cultivate the culture of meritocracy rather than mendicancy. Self-sufficiency, hard work and sacrifice liberate us from dependence, idleness and mediocrity.
 I ask you to give your heart and soul to toil with me and this imperfect government as we uplift the living conditions of everyone in Bougainville.
 I ask you to give the Bougainville Peace Agreement a chance to succeed. Only you and I can make that happen and no one else.

Christmas reminds us of this call. Christmas impels us to work on our dreams. Keeping the spirit of Christmas in our hearts and homes 365 days of the year will finally unshackle us from the chains of the past, the greed and materialism that have obsessed the lives of many of our politicians and public servants. We welcome the year 2016 with a renewed heart. The change that we all desire for Bougainville begins in our hearts and our homes. Give what you can to Bougainville.

As we usher in a new year, once again we find ourselves standing at the threshold of a new dawn, a new beginning we are reminded by our Christian faith that the child who is born on Christmas and becomes one of us invites us to participate in His mission of building the Father’s kingdom which for us the people of Bougainville includes our collective responsibility to fully implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement to ensure that the final outcome of referendum on our ultimate political status will be peaceful.

Let me conclude with a prayer for all of you:

Gracious, loving and merciful God, during this Christmas season, as the light of your Word penetrates our hearts, as we are reminded of the gift of life and faith, as the glories of the heavenly hosts are echoed in our church, we open ourselves up to your Spirit and give you thanks. We are grateful, Lord Jesus, that your story has become our story, and we celebrate your birth.
Continue, we pray, to instil in us a profound sense of your abiding presence, and help us to take to heart the wonder of your love, that we may walk in your ways and delight in your will.
Help us, Lord God, to be the faithful, gracious, loving, giving and forgiving people you would have us be.
Bless Bougainville, bless its people. Amen!

From me and Lady Elizabeth—a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to all of you and your loved ones!


HON. DR. CHIEF JOHN L. MOMIS, GCL, MHR
President
Autonomous Region of Bougainville

220115CHIEF SECRETARY ARRIVES
BY JENNIFER NKUI

The new chief secretary for Bougainville Monovi Amani arrived today to a warm welcome at the Buka Airport from department secretaries of the Bougainville Administration and member for Hagogohe constituency Peter Sohia.
When welcoming back home the new head of the Bougainville public service, Mr. Sohia said the people of Bougainville expect the chief secretary to move the Bougainville public service miles ahead and knowing his background the chief secretary is sure to install mechanisms that will put Bougainville through the process of referendum.
In response, Mr. Amani said it is really a privilege to be back home and he believes that the people of Bougainville have been waiting for too long to acquire the benefit of government services.
He added by saying that the public service has to wake up and deliver.
The new chief secretary went on further to say that the public service needs to allow the people of Bougainville to be serious partners in the development of Bougainville because we know better.
He pointed out that different communities have different priorities but as head of the public service, Mr. Amani wants to see a public service that will stand with the government.

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