NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

080524 ABG to train public servants
New Dawn FM News
ABG Government has to create our very own modules to assist the local government on the ground to implement Trainings for the public service in the region.
Speaking to New Dawn FM former teacher and sports administrator Anthony T’sora emphasised the need to have well disciplined and committed public servants to serve the people.
He strongly supports this call made by former provincial administrator Patrick Heromate and the need to upskill basic understanding of roles and responsibilities of being a public servant.
“We should create our own modules and build facilities to train our very own public servants,” says T’sora.
T’sora adds this way we would not face difficulties as soon as Bougainville becomes Independent we are more than capable to run our own government on the ground.
Meanwhile, he also urged boat owners who have speed boats servicing the Buka passage to ensure their crafts are registered.
He urged locals using this sea transport to choose skippers wisely while commuting.
“Passengers must choose boats wisely when boarding the sea craft,” he added.
T’sora called on the public to report drunk skippers to police to be penalised.
PNG’s small craft act is applicable to Bougainville until we draft our own. Ends////AK

070524 One suspect recaptured five on the run
New Dawn FM News
One of the six suspects who escaped from the Buin Police Cells has been recaptured by police.
According to Chief of Bougainville Police Deputy Commissioner Francis Tokura these criminals pose a high risk to the general public.
“The general public is cautioned in terms of safety when going about their business,” he said.
Tokura clarifies report only one female police officer was on duty at the time when the breakout occurred when escapees took advantage of the situation.
“The detainees climbed through the roof to getaway,” he says.
He says the roof has no iron and metal to barricade the room.
Tokura also confirmed the condemned state of the building and efforts made to conduct renovations to maintain the ongoing operations.
The six detainees escaped on over the weekend.
Two are from Siwai, one from Bana and rest from Buin. They have been charged by being in possession of homebrew, rape of a minor, threatening and others of criminal acts. ENDS///AK

070524 The National Court call over
New Dawn FM NEWS
The National Court call over will be heard tomorrow Wednesday 8th of May, 2024.
The circuit will be presided by Justice Ravunama Auka and prosecuted by the Prosecutor in charge Ms Linda Maru and assisted by Public Solicitor Mr Fidelis Lugabai.
A decision on sentencing for eight criminal cases for year 2021 and 2023; three other criminal offences in relation to the piracy and wilful murder cases while four offences regarding abuse of office, misuse of power and fraud will be tried in court.
The National court judge will preside over total of 60 outstanding cases from 2020 to 2023.
The office of the Buka National Court Registry advises that the Civil Court hearing is scheduled for the 13th to the 17th of May, 2024.
All are advised to make arrangements to attend your matters. Contact the registry for further advise on court listing. ENDS////AK

070524 Four National MPs asked to move to opposition
New Dawn FM News

The four Bougainvillean National Members of Parliament have been asked to move to the opposition side in Waigani, recently.
A former member of the Combined Council of Elders in Central Bougainville John Dona says the recent deferral of the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting between the GoPNG and ABG Government is a tactic being used to water down the agenda of Bougainville achieving Independence.
He says the recent deferral of the JSB meeting from Monday 6th May to Wednesday 8th May, 2024 is a tactic to dishonour the commitment by the GoPNG to Bougainville and delay of Ratification to be achieved by 2023.
“GoPNG can not do this to Bougainville at this critical stage in its political road to Independence.
Dona is adamant that the four MPs voice their support for Bougainville or simply move across the floor of Parliament to join the Opposition or consider resigning to join the current ABG government to fight for Independence.
He adds similar action was taken by former President of the ABG Government Grand Chief Hon Father John Momis to progress the agenda forward for this current government.
In the meantime, Dona applauded the continued efforts of North Bougainville MP Hon Francesca Semoso who is championing the agenda of Independence for Bougainville forward. ENDS////AK

070524 Education and well being of a child is paramount
New Dawn FM News

The education of a child and their well being is paramount according to local early childhood school.
According to Pastor Bathseba Hilary of Haku Constituency says she is enthusiastic about the training organised by the Catholic Church in Haku by Veronica Tsika and team members.
“I appreciate them for imparting their knowledge that helped to run an early childhood school in the Haku Constituency in Tanil village ward seven area,” says Hilary.
Ps Hilary says she has been running and teaching an early childhood school for three years from children as young as three to ages seven years old.
“I have seen the impact of teaching these young children from phoenix to sounds, consonants and sounds,” she adds.
The early childhood school opened in 2018, 2019, 2020 and she left to study theology at the Goroka Bible College for two years.
Ps Hilary returned to continue running the school later in 2022, 2023 and present day.
She has also been instrumental in building a church in Haku which is used to currently educate the sixty plus children.
“I saw the need to educate myself and fellow Bougainvilleans focusing on education and well being of a child,” she says.
She has also engaged Skelim Save PNG an international organisation who educates youths and others interested to learn and train on lamb phoenix.
“Anyone interested to attend the two weeks training course at Haku is invited to attend. Accommodation and three meals a day will be provided. Those who wish to travel to the training centre everyday can pay a fee of K150.00,” adds Ps Batsheba.
However, those who wish to lodge at Haku to attend the trainings will pay a fee of K300.00. ENDS/////AK

060524 Maru is appointed Prosecutor in charge of Buka office
New Dawn FM News

Linda Maru a lawyer by profession has been appointed by the Acting Public Prosecutor Raphael Luman as Prosecutor in charge of Buka office.
Maru who hails from Manus was appointed to head the Buka Prosecutions office in March this year.
The Public Prosecutions office in Buka had been without a Prosecutor since 2019.
She says basically her job is to prepare cases, interview witnesses and prosecute cases in the National Court.
She adds under the criminal code the criminal offences are known as indictable offences which means the Prosecutor shows the document known as indictment.
“These indictable offences can only be prosecuted in the National Court. There are some indictable offences which can be tried in the lower court known as schedule 2.
“Meanwhile, all other criminal offences apart from schedule 2 will be committed and tried in the National Court,” she says.
Maru says one of the major challenges faced by the office are cases which are not set out for trial quickly and enlisted for trial and gets adjourned several times and becomes difficult to interview witnesses to trial the case.
Maru has been previously serving the Prosecutor in charge of Manus Prosecutions office. ENDS///AK

050624 Bonus land is not state land
New Dawn FM News

Kokopau Town Manager Hilary Tsunno says Bonus land is not state land.
He says the area of land known as Bonus Plantation Free Hold Land portion 319 vol 1 folio 58 land title no CT: 00100158 is a free hold land.
Tsunno says the arrangement was made between the customary landowners and foreign developer from Australia and London.
According to the investigation carried out by Mr Tsunno, the National Department of Lands has no record of the title of portion meaning he had to acquire registration of land from the investment promotion authority (IPA).
“The free hold land meant the foreign developer had unlimited lease.
“In order to understand how the ABG Government could plan and put a proper plan in place meant the Kokopau Community Government had to find out the true ownership of the land portion,” says Tsunno.
Tsunno adds since the foreign developer had borrowed a substantial amount of money from one of the commercial banks and could not repay the land was repossessed by the bank.
He says the community government on the ground is going to establish a data base for the landownership of current settlers.
“This must be done in order to correct the illegal land grabbing and selling of portions of land which is illegal,” says Tsunno.
He says the Kokopau Community Government is awaiting a decision by the ABG Department of Lands on how to come out with a win win situation for the customary landowners and current settlers. ENDS///AK

060524 Aris fights teachers final entitlements
New Dawn FM

A retired teacher has been continuously fighting to gain approval from the National Department of Education to pay retired teachers final entitlements in Bougainville.
Kelly Aris who has taken up the responsibility of following up on other retirees final entitlements is facing major setbacks.
“Its like hitting against the brick wall,” says Aris.
He says he has been going through the ABG Department of Education to assist with the retired teachers final entitlements.
“Many former teachers have lost their lives waiting for their payout,” he adds.
Aris adds this agenda had been in 2003 and continues into 2024.
He added that legal action will be taken up to assist the retirees including next of kin or beneficiaries.
“Most live in remote areas of Bougainville who find it difficult travelling into town to follow up on their final pay.
Aris is continuing on calling on the ABG Department of Education and the National government to assist in this course. ENDS/////AK

030524 MINISTER’S NOTICE ON CESSATION OF TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MINING WITHOUT A TENEMENT

NEW DAWN FM NEWS
The Bougainville Executive Council has endorsed 21st October 2024 as the designated date on which transitional arrangements for mining without a tenement cease.
This announcement was made today by ABG President and Minister responsible for Mineral and Energy Resources Hon. Ishmael Toroama. Per Section 369 of the Bougainville Mining Act 2015, an individual Bougainvillean may, without being the holder of a mineral licence, carry out mining activities that would otherwise require the person to be the holder of a relevant mineral licence.
However, per the government’s decision, after expiry of the designated date, any mining activity being carried out by a Bougainvillean without a mineral licence will be deemed unauthorized under law and will be subject to the offences and penalties provisions of the law.
The penalties and offences provisions include provisions for unauthorized mining, unauthorized equipment and unlawful possession of minerals to name a few.
Offenders also will risk having their gold and mining equipment confiscated and forfeited to the ABG. “I appeal to all stakeholders to support the government towards responsible and sustainable mining sector practices; this includes discouraging unsustainable small-scale mining practices and providing support to small-scale miners to work in a more structured and regulated environment.
We want to mitigate the negative socioeconomic and environmental impacts caused by unauthorized mining activities and regulatory and enforcement capacity is being strengthened to achieve this”, the President said. ENDS!!!!

300424LESI HAPPY TO WORK WITH PACD
NEW DAWN FM NEWS
The group leader for the Evergreen Paradise Cocoa Farmers group, MR ERNEST LESI said that his group which has 300 active farmers were excited and ready to work with PACD with their lead partner NGIP AGMARK to increase cocoa production in their area.
Speaking at the signing of the partnership agreement for three groups at Malis village, Tohatsi last Friday, MR LESI said that his group is ready as work has already started and Malis is their project site.
He said that they are eager to work and build capacity for their farmers as they work with both the lead partner and the Cocoa Board and the World Bank.
MR.LESI also said that they were ready to benefit from this partnership.
Other groups that signed partnership here were the Green tip farmers group of Hagogohe and the St.Leonie LKK diversified farmers group from Halia also on Buka island.

ENDS
Photo MR LESI signing.