News 08.2012

31.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Powerless Buka

By Aloysius Laukai

The so called temporary headquater of the Autonomous region of Bougainville, Buka Town is now a powerless town since the PNG POWER'S generator developed engine trouble last weekend.

And their small standbye gen sets cannot meet the demand for electricity by Buka's other mini towns of Kokopau, Sohano,Kubu and Hutjena and not forgeting villages getting power under the rural electricity program.

Their so called load shedding does not even cover the backstreets as we have been without power since yesterday..now going into 48hrs without power.

And two local radio stations completly out of service the entire population is also in the dark.

As darkness falls we are totaly hopeless till the next morning.

31.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

No Power

By Aloysius Laukai

Buka town has been without electricity since yesterday.

And business houses with freezer goods could dump all their goods if this continues this morning.

PNG POWER last weekend was severely crippled when its main generator developed mechanical problem.

And they gave load shedding notices which they followed for only one day.

Even internet networks via mobile phones which we use are not working since yesterday.

31.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Discuss Bougainville referendum now

By Gorethy Kenneth

PAPUA New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government leaders have to tell the people of Bougainville whether there will be a referendum in 2015 or not. 

This is because time is running out and the main benchmarks, set under the Bougainville Peace Agreement that have not been addressed – for example – the Fiscal Self Reliance, Weapons Disposal Issue and Capacity Building to name a few.

Sam Akoitai, speaking as former Bougainville Affairs Minister, a former rebel hardliner and a concerned Bougainville leader, also on behalf of the people of Bougainville, said yesterday that time is running out. He said that it is better to talk about the referendum now before it falls flat on people’s faces.

“It’s better to say it now rather than leave it until late 2015 and frustrate the people again,” Mr Akoitai said. “I am calling on ABG and the PNG Governments to tell the people of Bougainville and PNG whether there will be referendum in 2015. 

“The Bougainville Peace Agreement was a creation for both the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government, they both must work together to ensure the BPA is fully implemented before 2015. There are benchmarks in the BPA that needs to be addressed immediately,” he said. 

“The BPA is a double entrenchment agreement and there will be difficulties making amendments if leaders start thinking of an extension of time to the referendum.”

Mr Akoitai, who also went on Radio Australia before an interview with the Post-Courier said yesterday despite him not being a leader in the ABG and PNG Government’s specifically on Bougainville, he was very concerned that there has not been any progress so far. Yesterday ABG President Momis met with Acting PM Leo Dion over ABG issues also including the K100 million owing to the ABG. Bougainville has just two years to address pressing issues before the referendum for independence. 

They discussed the way forward for Bougainville. Details of the meeting had not been disclosed, but the Post-Courier was reliably told that it was on the K100 million funding from the National Government and outstanding Joint Supervisory Body meeting and the Referendum issue.

31.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

ABG gets 140 Govt powers 

THE total number of powers and functions transferred to the Autonomous Bougainville Administration (ABA) by the National Government so far stands at 140.

Reports from the Division of Autonomy and Implementation show that education has the highest number of powers and functions transferred, at 63 – based on the approved MOUs. Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has 25 powers and functions transferred, eight powers and functions currently available to ABG; health has four transferred with 25 delegated, and six retained by ABG; Lands and Physical Planning has 11 transferred and five delegated; Forestry has 15 transferred and eight currently available to ABG; Primary Industry has 20 transferred and 28 available to the ABG; and Community Development has only two powers and functions currently transferred from the National Government to ABG. 

However, the delay with funding and no Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meetings between the National Government and ABG in the last six months has been highlighted as among the major constraints faced in the process of the drawdown of powers.

About 14 divisional executives in the ABG Administration met with representatives from the six Council of Elders (COEs) in Central Bougainville in a week-long awareness workshop in Arawa last week, particularly to update the people on the progress of each division on the drawdown of power process. 

Deputy Administrator, Operations - and Chief Executive Officer of the Division of Autonomy and Implementation Paul Kebori told the participants that other issues regarding Unity, Weapons Disposal, Reconciliation and Good Governance were also key ingredients to speed up the implementation process.

“ABG is existing – the structure is in place, we just need to put together the other vital parts regarding legitimate frameworks of the respective Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) to make it work. 

There are also aspects that need to be considered which relate to Peace and Reconciliations, Weapon Disposal, Referendum, Good Governance, infrastructural developments and Manpower.” Mr Kebori stated. 

Mr Kebori told the participants that as citizens of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, they had a duty to fulfil and they must work together to implement the autonomy.

There are 40 COEs, 13 districts and three regional commissioners in North, Central and South Bougainville.

He said it was a must that Bougainville Administration linked up with the COEs.

31.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Mine reopening urged

A LEADING businessman has thrown his support behind moves to reopen the Bougainville mine, saying this is the way forward to rebuild the crisis-torn region. 

Kandaso Napi, who became the first national to be awarded a freight forwarding contract by Bougaainville Copper Limited when the mine was operating at its peak, said the Government, Rio Tinto and the landowners need to work together to make sure the mine is reopened.

“It is pleasing to note that Rio Tinto is working cautiously not to repeat the mistakes of the past. The Government too must do the same. The past was created as a consequence of the Government failing its people,” Mr Napi said.

Mr Napi was responding to a recent statement by Rio Tinto Country Manager Mr Paul Coleman that moves on reopening the mine were progressing well. 

Mr Coleman said the talks involved the landowners, the Autonomous Region Government and all other stakeholders.

Mr Coleman said it would cost the company around K8 billion to reopen the mine and there was a lot of work to be done.

“We want to get it right for the first time so we don’t get anything from the past,” Mr Coleman told Post-Courier.

Mr Napi said the Panguna mine laid the foundation for the growth of PNG when this country became independent in 1975 and the people of this country owe it to the people to Bougainville to make sure they rebuild their lives.

“The traditional cash crops on Bougainville were abandoned and being rehabilitated only recently. The Autonomous Region of Bouganiville need all the money it can get to rebuild the place and the lives of its people,” Mr Napi said.

He said BCL or Rio Tinto should not shoulder the blame alone for what has happened and all parties should strive to find a way forward.

31.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

From autonomy to independence

BOUGAINVILLE has just two years to address pressing issues before it can start talking about the question of referendum for independence, scheduled to take place in 2012. 

Right now Bougainville needs to move ahead with economic recovery to provide employment, education and better health services. People’s lives must be improved to prove to all Bougainvilleans that life on the island was worth fighting and dying for 20 years ago.

This is probably how autonomy will be measured. 

Time is running out and the benchmarks set under the Bougainville Peace Agreement — for example, Fiscal Self Reliance, Weapons Disposal and Capacity Building — must be addressed now rather than later.

Autonomous Bougainville President John Momis and the Administrator Lawrence Dising must take charge immediately. They must work closely with the PNG Government and the international community, including factions on Bougainville.

They have to deal with the Morumbi/Panguna issues if they are serious about referendum and independence for Bougainville. They have to deal with the Tonu Issue of Noah Musingku; the Weapons Disposal issue and the outstanding reconciliations. All this have the potential of hindering development and economic recovery on Bougainville and may torpedo the referendum for independence question in 2015.

The Post Courier, as a paper, has walked the journey with Bougainville since the Provincial Government days and through to the Bougainville Crisis era. We can see a big problem for the islanders ahead if a solution is not found to deal with all these issues. President Momis and his administration must deliver now.

People are willing; disarmament is possible; re-opening of the Panguna mine is feasible; economic recovery is possible; and independence is possible. All it takes is the right connections being made at the right levels to make the system work. Although much has been achieved in the past five years, many people claim there is nothing to show for it. Australia has been on its toes in the region developing, funding and assisting the ABG and the National Government on Bougainville.

New Zealand has done its bit with Law and Order; United Nations is there for many reasons and Red Cross is still there, although not with a big budget but with their heart! The churches and any non-government organizations are still struggling to get Bougainville back to normalcy. These organisations can only supplement what comes off the PNG National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government. 

While the money-generating division, Commerce and Trade office details that the Bougainville economy is expected to increase within five years provided the Government address the pressing issues at hand — the region’s GDP is estimated to increase to K250m with cocoa to contribute about K110m, copra K18m, alluvial gold K30m per year and scrap metal another K30m. But all these cannot be achieved unless the problems detailed are addressed.

In light of this, the National Government must act now before anything comes up again! A warning to take heed!

30.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Arawa comes alive

Churches celebrate Day of Prayer

By WINTERFORD TOREAS

BOUGAINVILLE’S former headquarters Arawa town came alive with different church-organised activities last weekend as the residents and others from the nearby villagers converged to commemorate the National Prayer Day.

The three-day event, which was held from the 24-26 of this month was spearheaded by Rev. Robert Sanasi and his wife Everlyn.

Rev. Sanasi, who is also the Country Leader of the All Pacific Assembly-PNG branch, led more than 150 children and youths from the Aroma Bougainville-Waropa area to observe the event there.

The three-day program began with praise and worship to God the King of Glory on Friday evening.

The following day’s celebration saw a big triumphant march led by the children and members of the different denominations in Arawa. 

The purpose of the march was to acknowledge Christ Jesus as the King of Bougainville and PNG as a whole.

The Sunday program was held at the Independence Oval and was attended by pastors and their congregations from the different denominations.

Invited guests included the Central Regional Commissioner James Koivo and the local ABG member Linus Dake.

Those that witnessed the celebrations were happy with the event and promised that next year’s National Prayer Day celebrations in the autonomous region would be much bigger than this year’s. Rev. Sanasi officiated the closing.

30.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

ARB MP intent on addressing development

By WINTERFORD TOREAS 

BOUGAINVILLE Regional MP Joe Lera will be making it his business to address the pressing issues that Bougainville is currently facing during his term as its representative in the National Parliament.

And one of his main tasks is to table in Parliament the progress attained since the establishment of the Autonomous Bougainville Government in 2005.

Mr Lera claims that since his predecessors have not been tabling this report in the National Parliament he will become the first MP to do so. 

Mr Lera confirmed that he will also be attending the next ABG Parliamentary sitting where he will deliver his maiden speech.

During the (ABG) parliamentary session, Mr Lera will outline his 100 days plan and announce other plans to be pursued in his term in Parliament.

It is understood that Mr Lera has identified six projects that he intends to address during his first 100 days in office.

30.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MORE INDUSTRIES NEEDED

By Tapo Tovilu

Investors currently in the region must bring in more and do more to start industries in the region to help strengthen the economy.

The call was made by Chief Francis Loio who called on the Chinese to do more than just retail shops.

He says that the retail business is small and should be left to the locals in whatever region of Bougainville they are in.

He also made a call to authorities to monitor the quality of goods coming into the region and going on to our shelves.

30.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CALLS TO IMPROVE NOVA ROAD LINKS

By Tapo Tovilu

Calls have been made by the travelling public residing in the Kahule and Nova for more to be done to help fix their road to Buka Town.

They say that they have now for too long been travelling on poor road conditions to and fro town.

They thanked the works department which is currently upgrading the Ramunpan road area.

They made a call to member for North to look at doing more to help improve the road conditions from Buka to Kahule.

30.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

DECISION CRITICISED

By Tapo Tovilu

The decision by the National Police Minister to rid the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary of its Auxiliary Unit has been questioned by many.

A Police Cap from the Tinputz area says that auxiliary police officers are helping in areas where the police officers are not present.

He says that for Bougainville the auxiliary police have been part of their community policing program which in the last five years has been very successful.

He says that the decision to remove the auxiliary police will leave a gap in the community policing section of the Bougainville police service.

He made a call to those in power to look back at the decision and to consider what effects it will have on the community.

30.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MANAGER WELCOMES SUPPORT

BY Aloysius Laukai

The General Manager for Team Bougainville, MR.WILLIE MASIU today welcomed Bougainville Copper Foundation’s support to team Bougainville.

He told New Dawn FM from Port Moresby that this support was needed as the team needed to get all its team uniforms for the games.

Mr. Masiu said that team Bougainville was in dire need of funds as funds allocated by the Autonomous Bougainville Government totaling FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA was not available until the ONE HUNDRED MILLION KINA funding from the National Government was received.

He said his team would still need some more sponsors in order for Bougainville to fully participate at this year’s PNG GAMES.

Meanwhile, PRIME MINISTER PETER ONEIL announced that the National Government as paid FOUR MILLION KINA to AIR NIUGINI so that the TWENTY TWO Provinces can get to the games in Kokopo.

He said this means all Provinces would get TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND KINA each for air fares for their contingents.

30.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BCF SUPPORTS TEAM BOUGAINVILLE

By Aloysius Laukai

The Bougainville Copper Foundation has approved THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND KINA to support Team Bougainville to get to KOKOPO, East New Britain Province for the 5th PNG Games in November this year.

BCL, Country Manager, PAUL COLEMAN said that the company was more than happy to support the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to participate at the national sporting event.

He said Sports was very important in PNG and Bougainville and they were happy to support team Bougainville.

MR. COLEMAN said that Bougainville may not be fortunate like other provinces in terms of financial assistance due to their situations and it was only proper for Bougainville Copper Foundation a subsidiary of Rio Tinto to come on board and support them take part in the games.

29.08.2012

Source: Islands Business

Bougainville mine talk goes well 

Progress talks on reopening the Paguna Mine in Bougainville are going well and steady.  

Port Moresby, PNG --- Progress talks on reopening the Paguna Mine in Bougainville are going well and steady.

Country Manager for Rio Tinto PNG Ltd Mr Paul Coleman said Monday in Port Moresby.

He said they the company does not want to repeat mistakes from the past so they are very cautious about what they are doing.

“We want everyone to be involved,” Coleman said.

He said those to be involved in this process included all concerned stakeholders, the ex-combatants, Mekamui, the landowners and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

He said that after all consultations with all stakeholders they would proceed with pre-feasibility studies on reopening the Paguna Mine.

He said the progress on reopening the mine has moved forward and steady and is heading in the right direction.

Coleman said from the feedback they are getting off their consultations, most Bougainvilleans including the Autonomous Bougainville Government are keen on reopening the mine.

He said they had a meeting with stakeholders in Bougainville recently and will have another soon.

He said majority of them saw that reopening the mine would help with economic development in Bougainville.

He said much has been said but there is still much work to do.

Coleman said they are very cautious with they are doing and they would like to bring all parties into the process.

He said it would cost the company around US$4-6 billion if they were to reopen the mine.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and we have made a lot of progress in the past months,” Coleman said.

“We want to get it right for the first time, so we don’t get anything from the past.” 

29.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

BCL backs Team Bougainville

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE

BOUGAINVILLE Copper Limited is supporting Team Bougainville get to Kokopo and participate in the 5th PNG Games with a whopping K330,000.

BCL country manager Paul Coleman said the company was more than happy to support the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) to participate at the national sporting event to be held in Kokopo next month.

He said sports were very important in Bougainville and all of PNG and they were happy to support team AROB.

He said Bougainville may not be fortunate like other provinces in terms of financial assistance due to their situation and it was proper for Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL)- a subsidiary of Rio Tinto to come on board and support them take part in the games.

“We don’t want to see these guys miss out because of lack of funding,” Coleman said.

This will be the second time that the mining company has come on board to support Team AROB.

Coleman said in the 2009 Games, they assisted with sporting equipment and other items.

General team manager of Team AROB Willie Masiu was overwhelmed with the support from Rio Tinto.

He said the money will be used mainly to purchase uniforms for the teams.

He said they were having difficulty with funding and BCL helped bail them out from their biggest worry.

He said the Autonomous Bougainville Government will be supporting the team with K500,000.

However, Masiu said they haven’t received the money yet because the money will come from the K100 million from the K500 million for the ABG by the National Government.

“We were banking on that money, but it wasn’t forthcoming and when BCL came in to support, we were grateful and excited about it,” Masiu said.

He said their biggest aim was not to win medals but to take their young people out of Bougainville to see the changes happening in other parts of PNG.

This, he said, was also a good strategy towards peace restoration process on the island.

Masiu said AROB will have a total of 484 sportsmen and women including officials to the game in East New Britain Province.

He said they will have 18 teams from AROB participating in all major sports such as kick boxing, taekwondo, martial arts, soccer, basketball, volleyball and others.

Masiu said they also have 23 people with disabilities who will take part in para-games.

He said they are now in training sessions in preparations for the game.

Masiu said they got professionals from the National Sports Institute in Goroka to help with training their sports people there.

29.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Ex-combatant: Bougainvilleans should observe I-Day with pride

BOUGAINVILLEANS have been challenged to always observe the ABG’s Inauguration Day with pride. This is the call from one of the former combatants from South Bougainville.

This former combatant has voiced his concerns after seeing that many Bougainvilleans have not been observing the ABG’s inauguration day with pride. 

He said, instead they still always look forward to celebrating PNG’s independence anniversary. 

“I want to challenge all Bougainvilleans to observe our Inauguration day with pride because it is very important to us...for it was on this day, seven years ago, that we were given the autonomous status by the PNG Government.

“However, the opposite is happening. Instead of us celebrating this day, many of us have not done so. This clearly shows that we do not appreciate the fact that we have already gained our autonomous status. 

“Furthermore, this day should be observed with pride because many of our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, uncles, aunties and relatives had lost their lives during the crisis. That is why we must always observe this day as very special and a remembrance day for all of us Bougainvilleans. When we are not celebrating this day with pride, it clearly shows that we do not have a heart for those that had lost their lives during the crisis.”

He said he was saddened to see many Bougainvilleans looking forward to celebrating the PNG’s Independence anniversary instead - saying that they should also do the same during the ABG’s inauguration celebrations. 

He added that it would be best if the ABG’s Inauguration day celebration is observed in all the districts throughout Bougainville, instead of only in Buka and Arawa.

29.08.2012

Source: The National

ABG plans education curriculum 

By ABIGAIL APINA

A CURRICULUM development and legislative workshop of a joint implementation group (JIG) involving the Department of Education (DOE), Teachers Services Commission (TSC) and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) was held in Kokopo, East New Britain, last week.

It is understood the three-day workshop was to develop action plans for the ABG education curriculum and legislation that will be presented to the JIG meeting next month in Buka.

JIG co-chair and ABG education chief executive officer Bruno Babato said this was part of preparations towards the transfer of powers and functions from the national government to the ABG so that administrative decisions were made by appropriate authorities concerning the political destiny of the region.

Babato said seven MoUs were signed last February between the national government and the ABG, two of which concerned DOE and TSC.

He said this further resulted in the formation of the JIG, which involved mainly a joint technical team as a vehicle to implement the transferred powers and functions from DOE and TSC.

He said sub-committees on curriculum and legislation were then created to find a way forward for the elementary education curriculum and the draft Bougainville Education Bill, which will be legislated before the end of this year.

Babato said the consultation on curriculum development would continue to ensure the ABG team continually received technical assistance in developing its own curriculum for elementary education and TVET sectors.

He said these would further explore the opportunities of how to best serve the teachers in Bougainville.

Babato said on the downside, gaps in capacities in funding and additional staff were potentially undermining what was undoubtedly a strong commitment from DOE and TSC to help ABG division of education institutionalise transferred powers and functions that had been transferred to Bougainville in practical ways.

29.08.2012

Source: ESBC

ESBC press release 20120829_EN

Phoenix from the Ashes!

Four to six billion US Dollar will be poured into Bougainville soon!

„We appreciate a lot Mr Coleman’s promising statement, published in the PNG Post-Courier on Tuesday (read below),” said the president of Bougainville Copper’s European shareholders (ESBC), Axel G. Sturm in Andorra. “The four to six billion US-Dollar (eight to twelve billion Kina) that is projected for the re-opening of the dormant Panguna mine in Central Bougainville will bring a sudden impact for the island’s suffering economy.”  

Already in January 2012, Autonomous Bougainville Government Vice President Patrick Nisira had predicted that “the re-entry into Panguna by … Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) can be made possible by the end of 2012”. He may be right. 

BCL company secretary Paul Coleman is quite confident: He says that the progress on reopening the mine has moved forward, it is steady and it’s heading in the right direction.

The next weeks are supposed to be crucial. If everything works well, Bougainville may face next year its biggest change ever. It might rise like Phoenix from the ashes!

28.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Mine talk goes well

By ANCILLA WRAKUALE

PROGRESS talks on reopening the Panguna Mine in Bougainville are going well and steady.

Country Manager for Rio Tinto PNG Ltd Mr Paul Coleman (picture) said this yesterday in Port Moresby.

“We want everyone to be involved,” Coleman said.

He said those to be involved in this process included all concerned stakeholders, the ex-combatants, Me'ekamui, the landowners and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.

He said that after all consultations with all stakeholders they would proceed with pre-feasibility studies on reopening the Panguna Mine.

He said the progress on reopening the mine has moved forward and steady and is heading in the right direction.

Mr Coleman said from the feedback they are getting off their consultations, most Bougainvilleans including the Autonomous Bougainville Government are keen on reopening the mine.

He said they had a meeting with stakeholders in Bougainville recently and will have another soon.

He said majority of them saw that reopening the mine would help with economic development in Bougainville.

He said much has been said but there is still much work to do.

Mr Coleman said they are very cautious with they are doing and they would like to bring all parties into the process.

He said it would cost the company around US$4-6 billion if they were to reopen the mine.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and we have made a lot of progress in the past months,” Mr Coleman said.

“We want to get it right for the first time, so we don’t get anything from the past.”

28.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Why No pay?

By Aloysius Laukai

A paramount chief in the Suir area and chairman of the Tinputz coastal Village court, JOSEPH PANIKUN today called on the ABG to make sure that the efforts made by village vourt officials are compensated well.

He told New Dawn FM that the village courts have not been getting funding from the ABG for so many years and was wondering why this was happening.

MR.PANIKUN said that in Bougainville village Courts settle most of the local conflicts before they escalate but the authorities have overlooked them for many years.

He said that when he enquired at the Selau district administration he was told the funds for the village courts were paid early this year but have heen diverted to other urgent prorgmmes.

Chief Panikun also warned that if the village courts decided to stop work there could be a total chaos in the communities.

28.08.2012

Source: The National

Trouble-maker in Buka apologises publicly 

By ALOYSIUS LAUKAI

NOTORIOUS trouble-maker in Buka town, Garry Sawa, publicly apologised for his wrong doings at his Noru village, Ieta, last Thursday.The moving reconciliation ceremony was witnessed by Autonomous Bougainville Government Vice-president and  police minister Patrick Nisira, Justice John Kawi, associate Boskey Horta, Buka police station commander Armmet Tsimes, UN representative Peter Siunai, representatives from the peace and reconciliation division, Bougainville administration and the chiefs and people of Ieta village.Sawa paid K2,000, a pig and shell money and apologised to Lina Pai, a former Air Niugini Buka office manageress, who his group held up at gunpoint at the Air Niugini office in 2002.He asked for forgiveness from those he had mistreated in the past.Sawa said he would not be involved in such criminal activities any more.He previously surrendered five high-powered rifles to the Bougainville police service, in Buka.Nisira called on the people of Ieta village to organise and benefit from economic activities on their land.He said instead of selling land to outsiders, the people should take part in  economic activities.He was speaking at the reconciliation ceremony between Sawa and Pai, in Ieta village, last

Thursday.He thanked the people of Ieta village for giving their land for the development of Buka town and assured them of ABG support.

He said they made it possible for Buka to develop.     

27.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

Does Bougainville need its own regional ‘Rambo’ mission?

by AXEL G STURM | European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper

DURING HIS VISIT TO AUSTRALIA last week, Solomon Islands prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo stated that “the presence of RAMSI has been vital in allowing things to get back to normal in Solomon Islands”.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is a partnership between the people and government of Solomon Islands and 15 countries of the Pacific.

RAMSI arrived in Solomon Islands in July 2003 at the request of the government. Since then, much has been achieved and Solomon Islands is continuing on its path to recovery.

RAMSI has managed to:

•  Ensure the safety and security of Solomon Islands.

•  Repair and reform the machinery of government, improve government accountability and improve the delivery of services in urban and provincial areas.

•  Improve economic governance and strengthen the government’s financial systems.

•  Help rebuild the economy and encourage sustainable broad-based growth.

•  Build strong and peaceful communities.

All these services are also desperately needed in the so-called ‘North Solomon’ region, the Autonomous Province of Bougainville and its surrounding islands.

RAMSI is helping Solomon Islanders get their nation working and growing again. That will take years of hard work. Nothing will change unless Solomon Islanders want change and are willing to work hard in support of a common cause.

It seems that RAMSI is quite successful in its work. While I believe that military presence as in the SI won’t be needed in Bougainville, the situation on the island sometimes reminds me a bit like the pre-RAMSI times in Solomon Islands.

News like the plundering of Chinese shops in Buka, the arson of the three Rabaul Shipping vessels, roadblocks on the island and even stories about a self-proclaimed king who manages hisfraudulent financial business relations by satellite phone from his jungle camp are not really encouraging for foreign investors.

But these investors are now urgently needed to build Bougainville’s economy in the way outlined by President John Momis recently.

My hope is that all Bougainvilleans will be willing to learn from their Melanesian brothers in Honiara and that they will take into consideration some kind of Bougainvillean RAMSI support.

This could perhaps be called ‘RAMBO’ (Regional Assistance Mission for Bougainville). It can bring the island forward towards a better future and perhaps even an important step nearer to independence.

27.08.2012

Source: ESBC

ESBC press release 20120827_EN

Does Bougainville Need “RAMBO”?

During his visit to Australia, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo stated last week that “the presence of RAMSI has been vital in allowing things to get back to normal in Solomon Islands (SI)”.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) is a partnership between the people and Government of Solomon Islands and fifteen countries of the Pacific.

RAMSI arrived in Solomon Islands in July 2003 at the request of the Solomon Islands Government. Since then, much has been achieved and Solomon Islands is continuing on its path to recovery.

• Ensure the safety and security of Solomon Islands.

• Repair and reform the machinery of government, improve government accountability and improve the delivery of services in urban and provincial areas. 

• Improve economic governance and strengthen the government’s financial systems. 

• Help rebuild the economy and encourage sustainable broad-based growth. 

• Build strong and peaceful communities. 

All these services are desperately needed in the so called North-Solomon region - in Bougainville and the surrounding islands - as well. 

RAMSI is helping Solomon Islanders get their nation working and growing again. That will take years of hard work. Nothing will change unless Solomon Islanders want change and are willing to work hard in support of a common cause.

“It seems that RAMSI is quite successful in its work,” says the President of the European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper (ESBC), Mr. Axel G. Sturm and adds: “I even believe that military presence as in the SI won’t be needed in Bougainville although the situation on the island reminded me sometimes a bit of the pre-RAMSI times on the Solomon Islands. News like the plundering of Chinese shops in Buka, the arson of the three Rabaul Shipping vessels in March, roadblocks on the island or even stories about a self-proclaimed king who manages his fraudulent financial business relations by satellite phone from his jungle camp are not really encouraging for foreign investors.”

But these investors from abroad are urgently needed now to build up Bougainville’s economy in the way as it was outlined by President Momis recently.

“My hope is,” says Mr. Sturm, “that all Bougainvilleans will be willing to learn from their Melanesian brothers in Honiara and that they will take in consideration some kind of Bougainvillean “RAMSI” support. This could then be called RAMBO (Regional Assistance Mission for Bougainville) It can bring the island forward towards a better future and perhaps even an important step nearer to independence!”

26.08.2012

Radio New Dawn in Bougainville

New kid in town: Cargo plane

By Aloysius Laukai

This old model air niugini's chartered freighter made people wondering which plane was landing at Buka airport this morning. Aloysius Laukai had to rush to the airport to find out.

24.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

Simple for Lindsay as Morumbi moves on Bougainville resources

by BEN JACKSON

THERE ARE SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT the legitimacy of the exploratory and mining partnerships between Canada-based Morumbi Resources and five land ownerships companies in Bougainville.

It is unclear from where these land ownership companies derive their authority, but it seems they have over-stepped their jurisdiction, with neither the Autonomous Bougainville Government nor the government of Papua New Guinea having sanctioned any exploratory or mining projects in Bougainville.

Attention was drawn to Morumbi’s activities in Bougainville with last month’s appointment of Lindsay Semple as chief executive officer.

Semple, an Australian national, has a colourful history in PNG and Bougainville, having previously brokered a 10-year logging deal on the mainland which is alleged to have lasted only a few months resulting in land owners and contractors not being paid what they were owed.

Then, in 2008, Semple, acting for Invincible Resources, made facilitation payments of $8 million to President Joseph Kabui and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to secure a deal for 70% of Bougainville’s mineral resources.

The late Joseph Kabui never took the deal to Bougainville’s parliament and as a result was facing a vote of no-confidence before his sudden death in June 2008.

The deal was canned following Kabui’s death, but not before $200,000 had been spent by Kabui and another $1 million had been withdrawn by other unnamed persons.

At the heart of the deal was Sam Kaouna, financial advisor to Kabui, who it seems saw it as his place to decide on the future mineral resources for Bougainville when he and Lindsay Semple created Invincible.

Kauona told the ABC’s Steve Marshall in 2008: “Lindsay Semple, out of hundreds of interested investors that came into Bougainville, turns out to be that person, that special person, who is genuine, who is able to listen to the way people think.

“Look, although hundreds, I have chosen Lindsay because in my heart I feel that he's the person Bougainville needs.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, four years on Kauona is again at the centre of affairs; this time as vice chairman and director of Isina Resource Holdings, one of the landowner groups that have made deals with Morumbi.

24.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ROAD WORK PRAISED

By Tapo Tovilu

The mothers of the Kubu Hahela market have praised the ABG and other donor partner for the road work currently has been carried out.

They say that the sealing of their market front now makes it easy for vehicles especially during peak hours to move in and out of the market area attracting many customers.

They have called for more similar work to be carried out in other parts of the roads in Buka as this will make transportation easier.

The mothers now have made an appeal to the general public residing in Kubu to help keep the area clean as this much of the area is part of the ABG headquarters.

24.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

QUALITY CONTROL ENCOURAGED 

By Tapo Tovilu

Quality control on goods coming into the region has not been tough as there are very evident signs of counterfeit products in our shop shelves.

These were comments made by a public figure who would like to remain anonymous during an interview on New Dawn FM.

He says that during the past month he has been carrying out a survey on the number of counter fit products in shops in Buka.

He says that from his findings there has been an increase in the number of counter fit products coming into the region.

He says this is a very worrying issue as Bougainville currently is going through the economic growth period and products like this are damaging this growth.

He called on the relevant authorities to look into the matter as this was an ongoing and very dangerous issue for the economy of the region.

24.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

DELAY CAUSES FRUSTRATION

By Tapo Tovilu

Former public servants now have become frustrated at the long delay in payments of the second lot of payouts promised.

Donald Ratson a former public servant who served as a officer in the commerce division in Arawa for 15 years say that it has been too long now.

He told New Dawn FM in an interview that today that the promised date of July 15 has passed and there have not yet been any payments.

He says that many who served Bougainville and who are entitled for their risk allowance payments share the same frustration.

He made a call to unions in Bougainville to come out openly on the media and tell the people of Bougainville of what is holding up the payouts.

He also made a call to John Kali to stand by his words as he had in the first round of payments promised that the second round would also happen.

24.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ORGANIZE TO BENEFIT FROM DEVELOPMENT

By Aloysius Laukai

ABG Vice President and Minister for Police, PATRICK NISIRA today called on the people of IETA village to organize and benefit from economic activities happening on their land.

MR. NISIRA said that instead of selling land to outsiders, the people should organize and participate in the economic activities taking place on their soil.

He was speaking at the reconciliation and handing of weapons at Ieta village today.

The Vice President also thanked the people of IETA village for giving their land for the development of Buka town.

He said this has made it possible for Buka town to develop to where it is now.

MR. NISIRA said that the ABG was prepared to work with the people of IETA village to engage in meaningful activities that can benefit all the Ieta people.

24.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

COURTS GIVING CHANCES

By Aloysius Laukai

The National Court was very lenient on GARRY SAWA as it tries to move away from giving straight forward sentencing into jails to sending back convicts into their communities.

And as punishment the court ordered that MR. SAWA pay the victim and reconcile based on Bougainville’s tradition.

This was revealed by the Associate to Justice John Kawi, HORTA BOSKEY today.

He was speaking at the reconciliation between GARRY SAWA and LINA PAI at Noru this morning.

The Associate to Judge made these comments when responding to comments by another former combatant and Business man, DAMIAN KORA who wanted to know why the court was lenient on GARRY SAWA.

MR. KORA said that the TOGARAU resolution by all former combatants clearly stated that anyone in possession of arms could be seen as a law breaker and should be dealt with severely by the courts.

MR. BOSKEY said that the court had to study all submissions from the Probation officer, Chiefs and the lawyers before making the sentencing.

He said that the courts does not want to send convicts for ten to twenty years in jail and return and do the same things all over again but opt to other means of sentencing in which persons can change immediately.

MR. BOSKEY thanked MR. SAWA for being brave and opting for the public reconciliation that was witnessed today.

23.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SAWA SAYS SORRY

By Aloysius Laukai

Notorious trouble maker in Buka town GARRY SAWA has publicly apologized for his wrong doings at his NORU village, IETA this morning.

The moving reconciliation ceremony was witnessed by the ABG Vice President AND Minister for Police, PATRICK NISIRA, representative of the National Court Judge, JUSTICE JOHN KAWI, Associate BOSKEY HORTA, PSC for Buka Police Station, ARMMET TSIMES, UN representative, PETER SIUNAI representatives from the Peace and Reconciliation division, Bougainville administration and the chiefs and people of Ieta village.

MR. SAWA also paid cash totaling TWO THOUSAND KINA a pig and shell monies and also apologized to LINA PAI a former Air Niugini employee was held up at gun point at the Air Niugini office in 2002.

He also asked for forgiveness from whom he had mistreated in the past.

MR. SAWA said that he would not involve in these types of activities again in future.

MR. GARRY SAWA previously surrendered five high powered rifles to the Bougainville Police Service in Buka.

23.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Reconciliation

Pictured are GARRY SAWA And LINA PAI shaking hands at the Reconciliation ceremony at Noru, Ieta today.

Pic of Garry Sawa shaking hands with Buka Police Station Commander AMMERT TSIMES.

23.08.2012

Source: The National

Government statutory bodies meet in Bougainville 

OFFICIALS from government statutory bodies are conducting a week-long joint agencies border awareness in Buin, Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB).

They include the Department of Labour and Industry, Customs, Office of Censorship Board, Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Independent Consumer Competition Commission, Health, World Health Organisation and others.

Deputy chief censor Jim Abani said the purpose of the awareness was to educate the people from the newly developing region about roles, responsibilities, functions and objectives of each statutory body.

The workshop is to ensure people understand the rules and regulations of state agencies that allow people to take part in socio-economic activities.

“It is the new era for the ARB and through the Border Development Authority, people need to be educated with the necessary information to ensure they participate meaningfully and productively to achieve their intentions under required processes,” Abani said.

He said, many illegal activities like smuggling were becoming common and the people needed to be educated about that.

Among many issues raised is a concern regarding the unauthorised sale of DVDs on the streets of major centres like Port Moresby, Lae, Mt Hagen, Goroka, Madang and smaller centres and towns.

“It is against government policy to sell multiple DVDs and consumers have been urged not to buy such illegal items as they will never get their money’s worth from those products,” he said.

Abani said police, Customs including other law enforcing agencies were empowered by the Censorship Board to confiscate such items while investigating and uprooting distributing sources. 

22.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ESBC support Momis

By Aloysius Laukai

The European Shareholders of BCL have welcomed ABG President Chief John Momis's efforts to implant foreign investment on Bougainville.

The statement on their website in Germany stated however that for Bougainville to encourage foreign investors the ABG must first establish Law and Order on the island.

This means it must equip Police Forces with arms so that they are able to enforce law on the island.

The site stated also that conmen like NOAH MUSINGKU and people running around with guns terrosing peace loving citizens must also be brought to justice.

Also former combatants and Meekamui activists have to be urged to lift roadblocks and all outstanding reconciliations have to be made.

Once all these are done, Bougainville will be a very interesting place for investment for foreigners for the good of all Bougainvilleans.

22.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Women center needed

By Aloysius Laukai

The president of the Hahela Catholic Women's Association on Buka island,CECILIA KOSIN wants her group to build a women's resource center at Hahela parish.

And she called on the ABG to support ger group to build this resource center tgat can further support the work of the women.

She made these remarks at Hahela last Sunday.

CECILIA KOSIN said that the women can organize many community activities but without an office their labour would be in vain.

She called on President John Momis to immidiately look at the matter and respond positvely to their request.

22.08.2012

Source: EM-TV

9th Parliament Opening

21.08.201

Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

PNG's Governor-general opens Parliament with a call for reconciliation

Papua New Guinea's 9th National Parliament has been officially opened by the country's Governor General, Sir Michael Ogio.

PNG's Governor-general opens Parliament with a call for reconciliation (Credit: ABC) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, members of the judiciary and the 109 MPs were present for the occasion.

Firmin Nanol reports, from Port Moresby .

Presenter: Firmin Nanol

Speaker: PNG's Governor General, Sir Michael Ogio

  Listen here !  

21.08.201

Source: EM-TV

Momis Announces Foreign Investment Regime 

President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, John Momis, has announced his government's intention to establish a foreign investment regime to attract investment to Bougainville.

Tuia International a New Zealand firm was engaged in 2011 to advise the ABG on the policy framework.

One key recommendation was to clearly define the type of investment it was looking for and to create an institution that would screen investment proposals.

President Momis says responsible investment will ensure that the interests of Bougainvilleans, values, culture, and environment are protected as much as possible.

Tuia International expects to complete the project by December. By that time the investment Bureau members would be identified.

21.08.201

Source: National Catholic Reporter 

Film screening to raise awareness of plight of islanders

by Sharon Abercrombie 

More than 100 Catholic colleges and universities will walk in the footsteps of the first climate change refugees in early October. They will watch "Sun Come Up," [3] a 2011 Academy Award-nominated documentary that presents the plight of 2,500 inhabitants of the Carteret Islands, an island paradise 50 miles north of Bougainville, Papua, New Guinea.

The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is sponsoring the film as a way to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology, said Dan Misleh, the coalition's executive director.

For thousands of years, the ocean surrounding the Carterets had been a gentle mother. Then, in 2007, it began washing ashore, destroying precious croplands, permanently ruining the soil. Within the next decade, the islands will disappear forever under the water. The residents will have to move before they starve. Or drown.

"Sun Come Up" chronicles three weeks in the lives of the five families who have volunteered to be the first to resettle and to scout out land for their folks back home. We see them cast off in boats from Carteret, then take to the Bougainville countryside in bumpy vehicles. Their quest brings them to 15 towns. They encounter a variety of receptions, including outright refusal, indifference and thinly veiled hostility. One town warned that a portion of the population still suffers from the after-effects caused by 10 years of civil war. Many inhabitants are still armed, the villagers warned.

"Sun Come Up" is packed with heart-wrenching scenes. The 40-minute film unwinds like the best of novels, and viewers will immediately empathize with the heroines' and heroes' stories. One in particular: Four-year-old Cornelia sobs against her mother's shoulder. She doesn't like the new place they have come to at all, with its strangers, their noisy cars and the garbage scattered along the dusty road. "She wants to go home and wash in the sea," explains her mother with sadness.

Finally, the Carteret refugees find a community that accepts them with kindness, joy and celebration. It is a Catholic parish in the Tinputz region, where local families agree to make room for them. In a scene that could be right out of scripture, the parishioners hold a symbolic wedding between themselves and the Carteret families.

Since the film's debut, the Bougainville Catholic Diocese has resettled 12 families. It is one of many efforts going on right now to assist in a widespread relocation effort of the rest of the islanders. Other groups and nonprofit and government organizations are also helping, Misleh said.

Misleh said one group helping in the relocation is Tulele Peisa, which means "sailing the waves on our own," run by Carteret Islander Ursula Rakova, who is featured prominently in "Sun Come Up." In a Brisbane diocesan paper write-up from the Catholic Leader, Rakova tells how the predominantly Catholic Carteret Islands have been suffering the loss of crops and water supplies from the rising seas.

Brisbane Mercy Sr. Wendy Flannery's community and Catholic Religious Australia have been strong supporters of Tulele Peisa.

In a Catholic Leader story from 2010, Flannery said the church's teachings call for a new awareness around environmental problems.

"The ecological conversion to which our Church calls us requires a new look at our relationship with the divine source of all life, and an examination of the basic ways we live and relate to one another, and to other creatures, on our common home of planet Earth," she said.

The October film viewings of "Sun Come Up" will be followed by a scholars' conference, "Environmental Justice and Climate Change: Assessing Pope Benedict XVI's Ecological Vision for the Catholic Church in the United States," Nov. 8-10. The conference is co-sponsored by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, The Catholic University of America and the USCCB, and Bishop Bernard Unabali of Bougainville will present the keynote address.

The screening sponsored by the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change comes with educational packets designed for Catholic colleges, universities, high schools, youth groups, dioceses and parishes. The packets include a step-by-step guide inspired by Catholic social teaching to spur discussion after the film and encourage viewers to take action in response to the unfolding climate crisis, Misleh said.

The coalition invites parishes, high schools and youth groups to participate, too. Thanks to a recent grant from the National Religious Partnership for the Environment, the coalition has secured a number of DVDs at a discounted rate to mail to registrants. To sign up, go to org2.democracyinaction.org [5]. For further information, email Misleh at danmisleh@catholicsandclimatechange.org [6]. For a downloadable flyer and a film preview, go to the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change's website.

21.08.2012

Source: Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

Dare’s statement causes Bougainville LO’s to react

Konopa Kana 

The Bougainville landowner companies are describing the Member for Eivo/Torau and Chairman of Central Bougainville Committee Melchior Dare’s statement in the Post-Courier Weekender as a blunder and not in the interest of the people of Bougainville.

Directors of Karato Resources Holdings Limited, Pakasipan Resources Ltd, Banapa Resource Ltd, Kupe Resource Ltd, are refuting Mr Dare’s response to earlier media statements by the resources owners on their quest to control and own mineral resources in the region.

A representative of Karato Resource Holdings Limited Joe Bironoim asked who Mr Dare speaks for, the resource owners of Central Bougainville where the Defunct Panguna mine is located or the entire province?

Mr Bironoim said that as an elected representative of the Autonomous Government of Bougainville (ABG) he is expected to speak for and serve the interest of the land and resource owners rather than of the company (Bougainville Copper Limited) which has been blamed for civil war and environment destruction.

He said that Mr Dare’s statement clearly indicates that he is in favour of BCL giving “bel kol moni” or compensation for a short term gain which cannot comprehend the loss of lives and environmental damage which was the reason for not wanting to re-negotiate the return of BCL.

According to Mr Bironoim all the directors of the resource holding companies are already positioning themselves for the long term vision to take ownership of the resources, develop them and export from Bougainville.

He said that it won’t be in their interest to see foreigners come and exploit their resources and leave them with all the shambles and deep craters on their land.

Another prominent Bougainvillian and Director of Isinau Resources Holdings Sam Kauona has called on Mr Dare to withdraw his statement as it kills the spirit of independence and self determination in resource development and political destiny.

“Mr Dare is now contradicting himself as he was the one who sponsored the motion of the second ABG Parliament meeting where he moved the motion to recognise landowners’ right to own resources in Bougainville,” Mr Kauona said.

“And as a leader, he must stand by what he says at the first place rather than being swayed by money.

“As the way he speaks now, it seems that he must have been (influenced) by interested persons.”

The former Bougainvillian Revolutionary (now Me’ekamui Government) Commander General is now seriously venturing into exploration and said even if the National or ABG Government want to negotiate for BCL return, they must recognise the rights and wishes of the landowners.

“Not only that, they have to have a wider consultation with all the affected people from the Civil War caused by the BCL inflicted environment damages,” he said.

21.08.2012 (published on 18./19.08.2012)

Source: Post-Courier Weekender

Member responds to media statement

THE MEMBER for Eivo/Torau and the Chairman of the Central Bougainville Regional Parliamentary Committee Melchior Dare has responded to comments made by director of Karato resource owners company, Joe Bironoim.

“In my capacity as the member for Eivo/Torau constituency, I regret to say that Joe Bironoim has not consulted my Eivo chiefs, clan chiefs, elites of Eivo Torau, to release such insensitive media statement that is not representative of Eivo/Torau people and more so, legitimate clan resource owners groups collectively.” Mr Dare said.

He stated that to draw lines between and state their position as central regional parliamentary committee members, we share commendation to BCL and challenge that local resource owner’s company’s initiatives will take a long while, to operate feasibly and monetarily viable to become operational and bring about fiscal economic self reliant to Autonomous Bougainville and its people.

“It will certainly require concerted effort, time resource capacity and energy by all players in the joint venture investment partnership and ABG as legitimate Government and custodian of the Bougainville peace agreement,” Mr Dare said.

He added that the central members have thanked BCL executive director Paul Coleman to take a bold stand to come physically to Buka. 

“It has been a privilege for Mr Coleman to genuinely and humbly come to Bougainville with open policy to listen and further understand players and key stake holders in the spirit to listen and understand, the immediate pressing matters affecting Bougainvilleans as a whole and special targeted population in Panguna lease affected areas,” Mr Dare said.

The director also said it will certainly help BCL to strategically plan and intervene with its monetary capacity that is highly anticipated and available unlike other investors unknown to Bougainville. 

BCL in known to Bougainville mining industry investor in the pre colonial days to pre crisis era with its former Panguna mine operation.

“Our political position is to hold BCL responsible and accountable at this crucial phase for Bougainville’s future,”he said.

“If BCL is the culprit to cause conflict and crisis on Bougainville then we Bougainvilleans must open joint collaborative consultation and dialogue at this crucial time to embark on BCL to be responsible to address immediate and pressing peoples grievances.” He said.

“We cannot shy away from main players like BCL.” 

“It is unreliable to explore with new joint venture investors that have not proven to Bougainvilleans. Mr. Dare said.

He also said there are obvious constraints and impediments in negotiating new genuine joint venture investment partnership for resource owners without a capacity in negotiating management and capital investment.

“The central Bougainville Regional Parliamentary committee wish to applaud and commend Mr Coleman on behalf of BCL for realising and to make commitment towards maintaining stem positions, on the new deal new Bougainville Copper Agreement (BCA) on future mining investment dealings o Bougainville between resource owners and ABG in post conflict Bougainville,” Mr Dare said.

Paul Coleman has offered to genuinely address primary terms and conditions from “Bel Kol” money, compensation, fund peace and reconciliation and build and enhance capacity of PLOA with office space, and special technical advisers.

21.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Governor General to open ninth Parliament today

GOVERNOR-General Sir Michael Ogio (picture) will formally declare Papua New Guinea’s ninth Parliament officially open at grand opening ceremony at 9 o’clock this morning.

The session will end with an address by Opposition leader Belden Namah before Parliament adjourns to September 4.

Leader of Government Business James Marape will take charge of the proceedings in the Chambers in the afternoon, his first task, since his appointment.

The order of the proceedings at the morning grand opening ceremony will include a guard of honour by the PNG Defence Force first Royal Pacific Island Regiment the combined Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and Correctional Services pipes and drums bands.

Mr Marape, who is also Finance Minister, said yesterday opening proceedings would be ceremonial. Parliament will then adjourn to 2pm and after the official welcome and speeches by Prime Minister Mr O’Neill and the Opposition leader, Parliament will adjourn for a week and reconvene on September 4.

According to the official program, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and justices of the National and Supreme Court benches will take precedence.

The Parade host will be the PNGDF Commander Brigadier General Francis Agwi, accompanied by Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga and Correctional Services (CIS) Commissioner Martin Balthaser. Heads of diplomatic missions – high commissioners and ambassadors – will also be present for the occasion.

The Governor-General will take his position on the dais for the royal salute, to be followed by the combined band playing the British national anthem “God Save the Queen”, a 21-gun salute and PNG national anthem.

Sir Michael will then inspect the guard of honour and band and then mount the dais where he will take the general salute. He will then dismount to meet the Speaker Theo Zurenuoc and they will proceed to the Speaker’s lounge, escorted by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

The Opposition will announce its shadow ministers today and the Government will also announce its vice ministers.

21.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

More national experts needed

By JASON GIMA WURI

PROFESSOR Chalapan Kaluwin of the University of Papua New Guinea has called for more national experts and scientists to be involved in research when it comes to the seabed mining issue in the country.

“UPNG and other universities are important resource bases for research and technical expertise and they should be part of the development process instead leaving everything to a few government departments and their friends,” Prof Chalapan (picture) said in an email from Australia where he is currently carrying out some research.

He is with the Environmental Science and Geography School of Natural and Physical Science at UPNG. He said this topic is of interest to all stakeholders, both nationally and abroad, 

and requires broader consultations. 

“I have included the team members of the Extended Continental Shelf Project and interest groups to contribute to this discussion, and I’m also aware of Professor Karl Gena of University of Technology who has done research work on mineral deposits and geochemistry from this area and so is Dr Espi.

“We just need to establish facts and figures to make progress in this issue and must be done with some urgency as the politicians and investors may get better of it if is delayed further.

“The most important thing is to ensure the Government and our people realise that after 35 years of experiences in the field of sciences with expertise to contribute meaningfully to any development whether on land, ocean or atmosphere in the PNG, institutions and people like us should be able contribute in any new developments in PNG,” he said.

In off shore seabed mining in the oceans in PNG, a lot of experts who have done work in this area but no one is able to get technical advice from UPNG or PNG’s expertise, Prof Chalapan said.

He said Bougainville Copper Limited and OK Tedi were great examples of foreigners or developers making the final decisions

“We need to put our hands up and advise the Government that there are technical experts who can assist the process in determining the most appropriate solution, he said.

Prof Chalapan said in terms of strategy, PNG experts could do the following:

Write discussion papers for the Government and the people of PNG, organise a consultative meeting or conference of New Guinea Islands’ provincial government leaders and Milne Bay, support students, NGOs and provincial governments with their campaign activities and for NGI and Momase provincial governments to sponsor and organise a seabed mining summit to gauge a national perspective on the project?

“Too many times we read about mining conferences being held in Australia and Papua New Guinea continues to be left out,” Prof Chalapan said.

21.08.2012

Source: The National

World Bank: PNG not easy place to do business 

By KEVIN PAMBA

PAPUA New Guinea is not an easy place to do business, according to the World Bank’s “ease of doing business” index of economies for 2012.

Out of 183 economies measured, PNG ranks 101, a drop of four places from last year’s ranking of 97.

PNG ranks lower than fellow Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) members, Solomon Islands (74), Vanuatu (76) and Fiji (79).

Of the two metropolitan economies of the Pacific, New Zealand (three) is a much easier place to do business than Australia (15).

The city-state, Singapore, is the easiest economy to do business in the world with a ranking of “one” followed by Hong Kong (two), New Zealand (three) and United States (four).

 Surprisingly Japan (20) ranks behind many OECD countries.

The world’s largest and fastest-growing economy, China ranks comparatively low at 91 but better than stable-mate, India (132).

Many of the African countries rank as the most-difficult places with Congo Democratic Republic, Guinea, Eritrea, Congo Republic, Central African Republic and Chad making the bottom five.

“A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm,” the World Bank stated on its website.

“This index averages the country’s percentile rankings on 10 topics, made up of a variety of indicators, giving equal weight to each topic.”

“The rest of the tables summarise the key indicators for each topic and benchmark against regional (East Asia and Pacific) and high-income economy (OECD) averages.”

The 10 topics that PNG and the other 182 economies were measured and the scores it (PNG) received in terms of degree of difficulty are: starting a business (84); dealing with construction permits (138); getting electricity (20); registering property (87); Getting credit (98); protecting investors (46); paying taxes (106); trading across borders (99); enforcing contracts (163) and resolving insolvency (116).

PNG is classified as a “lower middle income” country with the gross national income per capita at US$1,300. The PNG ranking can be seen on the URL link: http://doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/papua-new-guinea/

21.08.2012

Source: ABC Radio Australia - Business

Bougainville sets up new foreign investment regime

Jemima Garrett

Bougainville is to establish a new foreign investment regime with the aim of attracting responsible investment.

Bougainville's President John Momis has announced he plans to set up an Investment Bureau to screen all investment proposals.

After some bad experiences in the past, Mr Momis said he wants to make sure new investment is responsible and protects the interests, culture and environment of Bougainvilleans.

Mr Momis says Bougainville needs foreign capital to grow and prosper but wants partners that will share its hops and values.

Legislation to establish the Investment Bureau is expected to by tabled in parliament in December.

20.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SHAREHOLDERS NEWS

By Aloysius Laukai

Good news for shareholders of the former INVESTMENT CORPORATION of PAPUA NEW GUINEA. A team from the Melanesian Trustee Services Limited which manages funds from the former

Investment Corporation which has been changed to Pacific Balanced Fund would be visiting Bougainville to talk to shareholders on Bougainville on the status of their investments. The team will meet shareholders at the Hahela YC HALL on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th August, 2012.

And on Thursday 30th August and Friday 31st August they will be meeting with shareholders at the Arawa Police Station.

Shareholders are kindly requested to bring in copies of their share certificates and some form of identification like Passports or drivers licences.

According to their notice which New Dawn FM has copy, the team will produce new Identification documents to members.

The notice says that the team would also present the status of the Pacific Balanced Fund and also present their new look share certificates.

Persons requiring further information can contact the Melanesian Trustee Services Limited on Phone numbers 3210560 and 3210561 or fax 321 0563 or email at trustee@mtsl.com.pg

20.08.2012

Source: ESBC

A brief comment.

The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper welcome President Momis' efforts to implant foreign investment on Bougainville. To encourage foreign investors, the ABG should first establish law and order on the island. That means: to equip police forces with arms so that they are able to enforce law on the island. Conmen like Noah Musingku and his gang and criminals like Damien Koike have to be brought to justice. Furthermore: Former combattants and Me'ekamui activists have to be urged to lift illegal road-blocks etc. . Outstanding reconciliation ceremonies have to be made. Once all this is done, all Bougainville will be an interesting place for investment for foreigners to the best of all Bougainvilleans. 

20.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

FOREIGN REGIME FOR BOUGAINVILLE

By Aloysius Laukai

Autonomous Bougainville Government President, CHIEF JOHN MOMIS today announced the intention of his government to establish a foreign investment regime to attract responsible investment to Bougainville.

In 2011 the ABG engaged Tuia International, a New Zealand firm, to advise on how to attract investment into Bougainville. Tuia’s recommendations were adopted by the Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) in December 2011 as policy.

President Momis said “A key recommendation by Tuia was the need for Bougainville to define clearly the type of investment it was looking for and to create an institution that would screen investment proposals for approval by the government.

We want to have investment for Bougainville that is responsible, and this will be enshrined in the legislation.

Responsible investment will ensure that the interests of our people, our values, our culture and our environment are protected as much as possible as foreign investment and industries grow”.

He said legislation will be drafted to establish an investment bureau to screen all investment proposals, and recommendations will be tabled in the Bougainville Parliament to ensure full transparency.

President Momis says that the Investment Bureau will have a board appointed by BEC, and

membership will reflect the wider interests of the Bougainville community.

The ABG President said that he believes that the people of Bougainville will see this as a very positive development.

“our recent history in Bougainville with outside investors as not always been good. The Tuia International recommendation mean that we will be able to seek investment into our future on our terms. We need outside investment to grow and prosper, but our partners have to share our values and hopes for the future. We have what the world wants so we can, and will set the bar high.” Tuia International expects to complete the project by December 2012.

And President Momis hopes that by that time the Investment Bureau members would be identified, the process in place, and the legislation to give effect to its role ready to be tabled in parliament.

The Project is sponsored by the ABG with the support from New Zealand and Australian governments through the Governance Implementation Fund.

20.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

Peles Rice: Doing good while doing good business

by KEITH JACKSON

PELES RICE LTD WAS ESTABLISHED IN BOUGAINVILLE to import, fortify, pack and distribute Sunlong quality rice at the same price or less than competitive brands.

The company is the brainchild of Tim Ashton, an Australian farmer, developer and human rights activist – which I agree with you is an unusual combination.

The general manager is Peter Tareasi, former group accountant of John Lysaght PNG Limited group of companies and current government and landowners liaison manager. with the Bougainville Islands Group.

Peles Rice is a commercial company (that is, it seeks to make a profit) with a strong social motive – to establish in Bougainville an industry that will make available a staple product at a highly competitive price.

The PNG rice market is currently controlled by Trukai Industries, an expatriate owned monopoly with over 95% of the market. By the time this rice reaches Bougainville, it is very expensive.

Peles Rice will be able to cut costs by acting as its own wholesaler selling direct to stores, cutting out the middleman so to speak.

It’s a great idea for a region of PNG that’s been doing things tough. But, as diligent readers will recall, there is a major problem.

While Peles gas secured some solid investment to date, it still requires another K550,000 ($250,000) to actually get going.

So the company is looking for additional investors or loans.

PNG financial institutions have clammed up on lending to Bougainville, and Peles Rice is a victim of this.

Perhaps there’s a feeling there’s too much risk involved, but, as Tim Ashton says, Bougainville is open for business and the north is probably one of the most peaceful regions of PNG.

Initially, Peles Rice will service the northern centre of Buka as far south as Wakunai from a proposed factory and distribution centre in Buka.

Production and distribution from places further south such as Arawa and Buin will not take place until the directors are comfortable with the security situation, especially in relation to the large amounts of cash that the business can generate.

For further information on this project, contact Tim Ashton at tim_ashton@bigpond.com.

20.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

HAHELA FEAST DAY

By Aloysius Laukai

Our lady of assumption parish this week celebrated feast day of the parish on Wednesday August 15th.

The women from the parish celebrated at Taiof mass centre.

And today all the mass centers celebrated a combine mass at the Hahela parish.

Mass centers, Sohano, Taiof,Buka town, Novah,Malasang mass centers met and the combine choirs were very nice.

Pictured are women from the Hahela parish presenting their item after church.

20.08.2012

Source: missio * magazin Nr. 5/2012 (September/Oktober)

Titelreportage: Die offene Wunde von Panguna

* Über missio

Das Internationale Katholische Missionswerk missio Ludwig Missionsverein KdöR in München gehört seit 1922 zum deutschen Zweig der Päpstlichen Missionswerke. Gegründet wurde es 1838 durch König Ludwig I. von Bayern. Allein 2011 hat es 468 Projekte in 35 Ländern auf den drei Kontinenten Afrika, Asien und Ozeanien unterstützt. Im Fokus stehen dabei der Auf- und Ausbau lokaler kirchlicher Strukturen sowie die Ausbildung kirchlicher Mitarbeiter.

Klicken Sie bitte auf das Bild unten, um den Artikel zu lesen!

19.08.2012

ESBC comments:

For a long time Antony Loewenstein kept shut-up. Now the self-styled journalist and notorious "minophobe" individual is back on stage again. Read his latest defamatory piece of writing here: 

19.08.2012

Source: Papua New Guinea Mine Watch

Classic corporate journalism on Papua New Guinea; what environmental concerns over mining?

Antony Loewenstein

Antony Loewenstein in Bougainville

The following piece by Brian Robins in the Sydney Morning Herald Business section is classic main­tream media my­opia. After decades of exploitation and environmental disasters due to mining, the possible re-opening of the mine on Bougainville in Papua New Guinea is discussed with­out once acknowledging the huge vandalism and violence perpetrated by Rio Tinto back in the day. I visited earlier this year and saw the reality of corporate destruction. Robins mentions none of this, of course:

Last month, senior managers at Bougainville Copper met landowner groups with a stake in the Panguna mine area for a fur­ther round of meetings, and they remain optimistic of winning and maintaining broad support for a resumption of opeations.

At the same time, the Bougainville government is trying to corral all the landowner groups to sit at the table to cut a deal with Bougainville Copper, although it is far from clear what the position of Rio, with its dominant 70 per cent stake in the copper company, will be to any proposal to resume mining.

Work to redefine the size of the ore body as a precursor to any mine development work is under way, and last month the head of Rio’s copper division, Jean-Sebastien Jacques, joined the Bougainville Copper board. But with an estimated $3 billion price tag, any progress in resuming mining will be slow and will need more than just the backing of the central government to get off the ground.

Bougainville Copper is saying nothing publicly at present as it waits for landowner groups to reach some unity with the Bougainville and central governments on a resumption of mining – a process that could happen quickly, or could be several months away, at best.

But the political risk to any large project on Bougainville cannot be underestimated since the Autonomous Bougainville Government still plans to hold a referendum on secession by 2020 which, if it were to proceed, would scuttle any prospects for a resumption of mining any time this decade, and beyond.

18.08.2012

Source: Brisbane Times / Fairfax BusinessDay

Miners tap resources the Melanesian way

by Brian Robins

Exploiting PNG's mineral wealth takes long negotiation and the full co-operation of the local landowners, writes Brian Robins.

For long-time expat Australian Lindsay Semple, who has been kicking around Bougainville for a few years now, it was the deal of a lifetime.

Semple had allegedly paid 20 million kina ($9 million) to the Autonomous Bougainville President, Joseph Kabui, to win exploration access to 70 per cent of Bougainville, but Kabui's death in 2008 derailed this.

Recently, Semple claims he cut another deal with the Autonomous Bougainville government, which he has backed into a Canadian-listed minnow, Morumbi Resources, where he has been appointed the executive. But the Bougainville government says otherwise.

Welcome to the world of doing business in Papua New Guinea, where fact and fiction can sometimes seem to merge.

Notwithstanding Semple's manoeuvring on Bougainville, Bougainville Copper has been making solid, if quiet, progress to resurrect its long-idled Panguna copper mine, while across the country work is moving ahead on the Mount Kare gold deposit.

Ring a bell? It was found by CRA, a Rio Tinto forerunner, in the late 1980s when the then exploration manager discovered a gold nugget while digging the toilet for an exploration camp in the highlands. That find triggered a gold rush by the local villagers in early 1988, which ultimately forced CRA to abandon the area as the locals ran riot.

Exploration work has proceeded in fits and starts since and, while there is little doubt about the economics of the gold deposit, the key is winning - and sustaining - the support of warring local villagers for a mine.

There is an unusual symbiosis between Mount Kare and the Bougainville copper mine, since it was also in 1988 that Bougainville Copper, which is also controlled by Rio, suffered the first of a series of explosions that led to the closure of what was then one of the largest copper mines in the world. Those explosions, of the power pylons leading to the mine, were the start of the insurrection that led to the mine closure by mid-1989.

For Stephen Promnitz, formerly with Kingsgate Consolidated and who now runs Indochine Mining, which is trying to develop the Mount Kare deposit, PNG presents few new challenges since he cut his teeth as a geologist at Mount Kare. ''With the newly elected government, PNG is in a de-risking phase,'' Promnitz said of the political risk in the country, after the recent changes in Port Moresby.

Indochine is finalising its pre-feasibility study for a prospective $120 to $150 million mine project and has hired a Melanesian Fijian, George Niumataiwalu, to help win over local landowners. He is credited with taking the Hidden Valley resource to a completed project for its owners, Harmony and Newcrest Mining.

At Mount Kare, a 1.8 million ounce resource grading an average 1.9 grams of gold a tonne, including a 700,000 high grade zone at 3.7 grams a tonne, developing a modest-sized mine producing 100,000 to 150,000 ounces a year over an initial seven- to eight-year mine life would appear straightforward. With any luck, it will be the first step in a larger operation.

As Niumataiwalu has put it when talking to the Mount Kare landowners of the present gold resource: ''We don't know if we have the ear, the leg or the hindquarters, but we are looking for a big pig.''

Niumataiwalu is keen to pursue the ''Melanesian way'' with any development of the Mount Kare resource - working with local villagers to ensure they are supportive as the mine plans proceed - to try and avoid any last minute surprises that could derail the project and stall it for another 25 years.

The Melanesian way is also getting a workout with Semple for his plans on Bougainville where, for Rio Tinto, a resumption of mining may not be simple, since opposition remains deeply entrenched in some quarters.

Last month, senior managers at Bougainville Copper met landowner groups with a stake in the Panguna mine area for a further round of meetings, and they remain optimistic of winning and maintaining broad support for a resumption of operations.

At the same time, the Bougainville government is trying to corral all the landowner groups to sit at the table to cut a deal with Bougainville Copper, although it is far from clear what the position of Rio, with its dominant 70 per cent stake in the copper company, will be to any proposal to resume mining.

Work to redefine the size of the ore body as a precursor to any mine development work is under way, and last month the head of Rio's copper division, Jean-Sebastien Jacques, joined the Bougainville Copper board. But with an estimated $3 billion price tag, any progress in resuming mining will be slow and will need more than just the backing of the central government to get off the ground.

Bougainville Copper is saying nothing publicly at present as it waits for landowner groups to reach some unity with the Bougainville and central governments on a resumption of mining - a process that could happen quickly, or could be several months away, at best.

But the political risk to any large project on Bougainville cannot be underestimated since the Autonomous Bougainville Government still plans to hold a referendum on secession by 2020 which, if it were to proceed, would scuttle any prospects for a resumption of mining any time this decade, and beyond.

17.08.2012

Source: East Asia Forum, ANU, Australia

Economic challenges for the new Papua New Guinea government

Author: Aaron Batten, ADB

Papua New Guinea’s (PNG’s) incoming government will inherit an economy buoyed by a decade of rapid economic growth and poised to reap the benefits of its vast natural wealth. After the state was nearly bankrupted in 2001, real per capita income has risen by 150 per cent and private sector employment has more than doubled.

The PNG economy is projected to grow 7.5 per cent this year, supported by high government spending, high commodity prices, and a US$16 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which is now entering its peak construction phase. Business is also booming. A recent survey of PNG’s top 100 Chief Operating Officers (COOs) found that 90per cent expect company profits to be higher in 2012 than in 2011, with none expecting a decline. Two thirds said their 2011 profits had exceeded expectations. With over US$27 billion (equivalent to 190 per cent of 2011 GDP) expected to be invested in the mining, oil and gas sectors before the end of the decade, PNG’s medium-term growth outlook is strong.

But PNG’s macroeconomic success masks growing unease about the distribution of the benefits of growth, including the government’s ability to translate wealth and macroeconomic stability into better public services. Progress has been made in some areas: the proportion of the road network in ‘good’ condition has risen from 10 per cent in 2003 to 33 per cent in 2011, and under-5 mortality rates have fallen in many provinces. Yet many other core public services have deteriorated over the last decade, particularly in rural and remote areas. PNG is one of a handful of countries that is not on track to meet any of the Millennium Development Goals.

Rising inequality is partly a result of constraints on non-mining investment. While the stock of private sector employment has doubled over the last decade, ADB estimates show that less than 5 per cent of the population, (or roughly 10 per cent of the working age population) are currently able to earn a wage in the formal economy. PNG’s COO survey highlights that a shortage of skilled labour, poor law and order, lack of technical expertise, unreliable utilities from state owned enterprises (SOEs), and the poor state of transport infrastructure impose major barriers on investment in the non-mineral economy, where poorer people are more likely to be employed. The Asian Development Bank estimates that less than 10 per cent of the working age population are currently able to earn a wage in the formal economy, These constraints combined with rising firm profitability have led to a dramatic outflow of investment funds from PNG over the last decade. For example, PNG’s investment in Australia reached $US1.2 billion (equal to 12.8 per cent of GDP) in 2010—350 per cent higher than the amount of money invested by Australian companies in PNG.

High inflation also undermines equality: roughly 85 per cent of the population relies on cash crops for semi-subsistence livelihoods, so their purchasing power has deteriorated rapidly in recent years. The combination of structural constraints in land and housing markets and rising property demand has contributed to a sharp increase in rental prices. As a result, a growing proportion of urban residents are being forced to live in informal settlements with poor access to power and sanitation facilities, and significant security risks.

PNG’s booming mining sector is also creating inequality at the village level. In the next 12 months, the government must manage 8,000 local workers who will be retrenched from the LNG project. Landowner groups are warning of social unrest if alternative work arrangements for these workers cannot be found.

Managing these problems will be difficult for the new government, which faces a period of much slower growth in government revenue. Later this year the Government will finalize its third Medium Term Fiscal Strategy (MTFS 2013-2017) which will play an important role in establishing the fiscal rules required to balance PNG’s large social and physical infrastructure investment needs with maintaining the macroeconomic stability that has underpinned the last decade of economic growth. Maturing mining and oil operations, for instance, will contribute to a 5–10 per cent decline in real government revenue by 2014. LNG revenues starting in 2015 will help, but given the generous tax concessions, current expectations are that there will be zero net savings within the newly created sovereign wealth fund in the next five years.

The budget is a big challenge because, at US$650 per capita, PNG’s revenue is among the lowest in the South Pacific.

Three main factors contribute to PNG’s low revenue base. Firstly, only 5 per cent of the population is engaged in formal private sector employment, which gives the government a small income tax base. Secondly, as a result of tax concessions and the end of additional mining profits tax in 2003, the average effective tax on PNG’s mining, oil and gas companies is low compared with other fiscal regimes. The recently opened Ramu Nickel and Cobalt mine has a ten year tax holiday before it will contribute to national revenue. Many other similarly beneficial concessions have been made to firms across the sector. Thirdly, PNG suffers from poor tax compliance and enforcement because the national tax office lacks the staff and resources to investigate evaders.

PNG’s low revenue means the incoming government will have to turn to some sort of fiscal austerity. Expenditure should focus on rehabilitating existing infrastructure rather than creating new assets, because the government will struggle to maintain new projects. Strengthening the tax office and taxing the mining sector more heavily would help alleviate fiscal pressures over the medium term.

The government’s biggest challenge for the next decade is improving the inclusiveness of economic growth. And this will require a re-invigoration of the microeconomic reform agenda: the government needs to strengthen competition, lower barriers to new business and stimulate growth in the non-mineral economy. Service delivery by SOEs must also improve. The new administration should make SOEs more accountable and performance-oriented, improve management structures, and encourage greater private sector participation.

The 2012 budget unveiled plans to restructure SOE governance and accountability frameworks. If these initiatives can be implemented, they will create the conditions for much faster growth in the non-mineral economy. This reform is a crucial step to avoid overreliance on commodity exports, thus improving the range and quality of employment opportunities for the people of PNG.

Aaron Batten is Country Economist at the Port Moresby Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank. A version of this article was first published here in the Development Policy Blog.

17.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

Bougainvilleans reckless behaviour lets down our people

by LEONARD FONG ROKA

Later talk spread throughout the valley that these future leaders of Bougainville had some difficulty answering the village people’s questions. Some of the students frankly stated they had no idea how to respond to questions. Others, in responding to questions, showed the villagers they were not aware of the issues affecting the valley.

Another of these students angered the people by stating that ‘when we graduate, we don’t feel like returning to Bougainville because pay rates are too low’.

Gossip in the valley also had it that the team was very much into drinking (a friend of mine from Muguai told me he was touring with them because they provided free beer). Sad to say, but alcohol is now a problem in Bougainville.

It was also said of the team that many were lovers courting each other and not touring for the good of Bougainville’s 15,000 lost lives in the civil war.

As I write this, I am reflecting on the words of Francis M Deng, who wrote in 1997: “Deprive a people of their ethnicity, their culture, and you deprive them of their sense of direction or purpose”.

I believe we are suffering under this curse. Maybe we’ve forgotten that there is a place in the Solomon Sea called Bougainville. Maybe there was not a crisis we failed to contain politically which turned into a civil war costing the lives of thousands of our brothers and sisters.

If you think that the terrible conflict was instigated by me, a Panguna fellow, you ought to change that mentality. Bougainville colonialism created a crisis in the hearts and minds of our elders and we inherited this. The seeds of conflict were sown long before hostilities broke out.

Panguna’s icons of secession, the late Francis Ona and the late Joseph Kabui, were not there when John Teosin began the Hahalis Welfare Society. They were not present in demonstrations in Kieta and Arawa by Napidakoe Navitu led by the late Sir Paul Lapun. They were not there on the mission led by current President John Momis in the mid-1970s which went to the UN in New York campaigning for Bougainville independence.

They weren’t there, but they were children who grew up in that aura of conflict.

Be that as it may, Bougainville is now our common problem. The old people originally involved in the protests against our Papua New Guinean masters did not carry the freedom campaign in their hearts, so, when finer economic pastures sprouted, they forgot their fight and sucked on PNG’s breasts.

As Bougainvilleans, we ought to accept that we are all victims of what our 1960s and 1970s elders left unnourished, neglecting that already they had made their children see, hear and feel the Bougainville problem created by colonialism.

Mr Deng’s idea of cultural deprivation did happen in Bougainville, and the Bougainville crisis of 1988 gave a venous sting to it. We know who we are - we know we are Solomon people - but our problem is irresponsibility to our homeland.

We have our tails firmly glued to our bellies in fear. In the open, we talk PNG; we talk Bougainville only in the safety of cyberspace. We have to act out for the world that we are Bougainvilleans.

I feel sad seeing all this. The more we drift, the more Bougainville will suffer.

Every year Bougainville exports students to be educated, hopefully to serve Bougainville in return. But away from home, they are here running after New Guinean penis and vulva and don’t want to be the true Bougainville light to self-determination and progress.

A fundamental reason why the United Nations supported a referendum on Bougainville independence was because of the prospect of cultural genocide of Bougainvilleans as a marginalized people in the hands of an irresponsible Papua New Guinea government and people.

Bougainville today has a bunch of people that talk Bougainville away from home; but, when in their village, they are the problem to the community.

I regularly, meet people coming home from New Guinea, loading beer into PMVs because they want to drink all the way to South or Central Bougainville; or booze all the way to Haku or to Nissan Island. Does this, make sense? Are we doing any good for our village relatives?

This also shows that we don’t respect ourselves as Bougainvilleans and those who died during the conflict leading us to become empty drums that lack vision and thoughts worth contributing to the good of Bougainville.

Where do you stand?

We claim we are way behind in terms of development. For those of us who travel beyond Bougainville, it is of paramount significance that our homecoming ought to be a source of positive thinking so our respective communities can improve and Bougainville can be a better place.

Leonard Roka is a mature age student at Divine Word University in Madang. He was a participant in the civil war, in which his father was killed.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Momis assures more benefits

By Tapo Tovilu

President Momis while speaking at the Launching of joint venture business in Buin yesterday assured the people of Bougainville that they will now benefit more from similar projects.

Bougainville he says is the first in the pacific to stand and say that we have to be to have a joint venture business plan for any outside business.

He also reviled today that Bougainville will be now involved in downstream processing for export in the next five years.

He says that by law it will be required that any company wishing to do business in Bougainville must be a joint venture business.

Momis added that for too long the people of Bougainville have been slaves to other foreign companies but now he says we will be benefiters to business ventures in Bougainville.

He says that the reason for this is that outside business have transparency ensuring that they follow the regulations set by the ABG.

He also made a strong call to the people of Bougainville not to depend only on the ABG but also do what little they can to help develop the ABG.

He says that we will soon bring in experts to help the grassroots in ways they can make money for themselves.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Investors welcomed

By Tapo Tovilu

Chinese investors have been now given the chance to start joint venture business with businessmen from Buin.

At the launching today in Buin Commerce and trade minister and ABG Member for Konnou Wilfred Comba expressed his joy at the official lunch of the joint venture business plan.

In his speech he thanked Investors’ police and ABG president for their efforts in providing the opportunity for the joint venture business for the people of South Bougainville.

He says that the Government is for the people and was put in place by the people so that such services can be provided.

He added that Bougainville now must fulfil the requirement of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and work together for progress

He also says that for Bougainville to be politically independent it must be first economically independent.

He assured the people of Bougainville that under his department there are rules and regulations, so investors now coming in have the blessing of the ABG.

Comba also says that both local and joint venture business will be at the same level which he explained that it will be at a level playing field in the business arena.

He revealed more good developments which under the planning of the ABG will start from next year onwards.

He appealed to the people of South Bougainville to look after these investors and other things the ABG is putting into place for their benefit.

He also called on the people to Support the work of the government so that both the ABG and the people of Bougainville can move forward.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Kauva calls for respect

By Tapo Tovilu

Member for Makis and ABG minister for Peace and Reconciliation Newton Kauva has called on all foreign investors and joint venture business currently in Bougainville to respect the cultural ways of the local people.

He says that as Melanesians culture is a part of life and must be respected and recognised for peace and understanding between men.

He says that for foreign business especially they must respect the ways of what community they run their business in.

He added that if this is followed he has guaranteed that business will flow smoothly without trouble in Bougainville.

He urged also that Bougainvilleans respect foreign business in the region as they are investing in the growth of the regions economy.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Sealing to begin tomorrow

By Tapo Tovilu

The Buka town areas from City Pharmacy all the way to the buai market will tomorrow have the pavements and walkways sealed.

This was reviled today by an officer from the Buka Urban Town Council on New Dawn FM’s talkback show.

The officer says that the Buka town pavement sealing project has been funded through PNG Australia transport sector support program where AUSAID is funding.

The preparation work which began a week ago by a local road works company IKL has now been completed awaiting the first coat sealing.

Sealing will be carried out bynationallyrenowned road sealing company based in Port Moresby Dekenai Construction.

The officer says that work was supposed to have begun last week but due to the non-arrival of Dekenai’s equipment’s the work was moved tothis week.

Other areas where sealing will also be carried out are Kubu hill and the Kubu Hahela market area opposite Uni Center.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Water supply for town called for

By Tapo Tovilu

The residents of Buka town have called on the ABG through the Buka Town Urban Council in developing and installing a water supply system for the Buka town area.

The plan for a water supply system for Buka town was made a few years ago but still up to this date no physical work has been carried out.

Residents of Buka town say that during long periods of the dry season finding water for the most basic of things is very difficult.

They also added that with no designated water truck for filling up water tanks for residential areas there is much need for the water supply system.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Moderator to visit Buka

By Tapo Tovilu

The United Church of Papua New Guinea moderator Reverend Samson Lowa will be visiting Buka to officiate the creation of the Buka Town Urban circuit.

His visit will also coincide with his farewell trip which he currently is doing in all regions of the country as he will be replaced next year.

The United Church of Bougainville will all be gathered at the Buka Town United church building for their service with the current UC moderator.

The service will also be a time for all leaders of the United Church in Bougainville to come together for the special occasion.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Cruise ship docks in Buka

By Tapo Tovilu

The massive double hulled ocean cruiser named Inspiration 2 while docked was an eye opener for boat farers going to and fro Kokopau.

The ship departed Buka after a four hour stop over on its way to Rabaul than onto other destinations on its tour of the pacific.

<   MV Carnival Inspiration 2

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Chiefs calls for help

BY Tapo Tovilu

Chiefs from the Tanamalo area on Buka Island are calling on the ABG and other road works contractors to assist them in the upgrade of their section of the Buka ring road highway.

Peter Tagiolo a chief from the area today during an interview with New Dawn FM made the call representing his people.

He says that due to heavy rains during the past month and no proper drainage their roads have gone from bad to worse.

He says that the road is their only way of transport to and fro Buka town for his people and has called for more assistance in the maintenance of the road.

Meanwhile Mr Tagiolo also made some positive comments commending youths from the area who have taken an initiative in patching the huge portholes in their section of the highway.

He has called on stakeholders to make their pledging become reality to prepare the ring road for sealing by next year.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Road works commended

By Tapo Tovilu

The current road restoration and upgrades being carried out in the Buka town area Kubu and Hutjena have been praised by members of the public.

They say that these upgrades are a facelift to the Buka area and should continue in the future.

They added that as Buka is currently the ABG capital and major business center for the region such beautification projects must be done more often.

The thanked the Buka urban town council and the works department with other contractors for the current work and have called for more similar work to be carried out in areas where work has not yet been done.

17.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Kauva calls for respect

By Tapo Tovilu

Member for Makis and ABG minister for Peace and Reconciliation Newton Kauva has called on all foreign investors and joint venture business currently in Bougainville to respect the cultural ways of the local people.

He says that as Melanesians culture is a part of life and must be respected and recognised for peace and understanding between men.

He says that for foreign business especially they must respect the ways of what community they run their business in.

He added that if this is followed he has guaranteed that business will flow smoothly without trouble in Bougainville.

He urged also that Bougainvilleans respect foreign business in the region as they are investing in the growth of the regions economy.

17.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

The tough task of investing in the new Bougainville

by KEITH JACKSON

TIM ASHTON [picture] WAS RAISED on the plains of central NSW and developed 

In 2005, he happened to be introduced to the charismatic President Joseph Kabui of Bougainville, got on well with him and was invited to visit the autonomous province to assist in any way he could.

Ashton took up the offer and, when he arrived in Bougainville, was assigned by Kabui to review foreign entities seeking to gain an early foothold in Bougainville following the tragic civil war.

Ashton decided to start by looking at an outfit called Invincible, purportedly a Canadian resources company.

“I provided Kabui with a report on Invincible,” Ashton says, “in which I found very strong circumstantial evidence that it was at best opportunist, even fly-by-night….

“More disturbingly, it was not the native Canadian company it represented itself to be, but one which originated in Russia. It had been backdoor listed on the Toronto stock exchange and was funded through a secret Cayman Islands trust with links into Russia…”

Ashton was alarmed about the deal Kabui’s new Bougainville government might be about to do with a company that lacked transparency and had such obscure associations. 

“I have always held a belief that one should not get into bed with any entity without first being able to look under it and with Invincible that was impossible.”  

Ashton submitted his report – “which was received rather coolly” - to later find out that Invincible had funded President Kabui’s election by a reported $US2 million.

He was disappointed but undeterred.

Ashton began to establish a joint venture with some Bougainvillean investors to import quality rice to be fortified, packed and distributed within Bougainville, providing a solid local industry and providing good returns.

The competitive advantage of the business was that it would sell wholesale directly from the factory; which no other company could do.

The Bougainville end of the project was relatively easy once Ashton gained the trust of potential investors.

He says: “The business model is predicated around raising trade finance of K550,000 for nine months, secured against government title land with buildings and plant to the value of approx K1.2M.”.

OK, good, productive idea. Not a great capital cost. Socially and economically desirable in a province struggling to reassert itself. So what’s the problem?

“It revolves around what appears to be an unofficial embargo on providing credit to Bougainville by finance institutions based in Port Moresby,” Ashton explains.

“The National Development Bank gave conditional approval, the condition being that we provide security outside Bougainville.

“We had investors in the province, but this condition really raised the bar. And on such a modest investment, too.

“In the case of another potential investor, the CEO of a major finance organisation was keen to go ahead but was outvoted by his fellow directors.”

Ashton is puzzled at this negative response, which he equates to an embargo.

“Bougainville is a far safer environment than Moresby, Lae or the Highlands. Expats and nationals walk everywhere, even at night, through Buka, Arawa and Buin,” he observes.

“The BSP bank in Buka is built of fibro and gyprock and has a couple of unarmed security guards by day, who are more interested in sleeping or chatting up young ladies!”

So there’s a potentially profitable, viable, eminently socially desirable project ready to go in Bougainville – but it lacks what is basically short term trade finance to fire it up.

“We need K550,000 loan for nine months and as a sweetener we are offering a generous free carried equity position in the operation.”

That’s the deal.

Anyone out there interested.

If you want to obtain further information, you can email Tim at tim_ashton@bigpond.com 

16.08.2012

Source: ESBC Research

Voices on Panguna

Click here and find out what people said on re-opening the Panguna mine and Bougainville Copper Limited... 

16.08.2012

Source: The National

Bougainville customs to hold border issues workshop 

THE PNG Customs office in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is organising a week-long workshop to create awareness of border issues in the region.

PNG Customs manger in Bougainville (ARB) John Kiu said it was important that the people are aware of border issues and how they can develop the country and region in partnership with government agencies and NGOs.

Kiu said migration into the region would increase because of the continuous economic growth in the country that has also spilled into the region.

The workshop would be held in Buin from the 19th of this month to the 24th.

Kiu said the workshop would be conducted by a Joint Border Agency which would compromise of Investment Promotion Authority, Labour and Employment Department, Department of Health,World Health Organisation, PNG Immigration and Citizenship Service, National Fisheries Authority and other relevant state agencies.

He said the purpose of the workshop is awareness and to promote collaborative efforts between the public and government.

He said this would help give public information of state agency so that the state agencies do not work in isolation.

He said the main target of the workshop would be youths and women groups, advocacy groups, war veterans and business representatives.

Kiu said he hoped the meeting would be a success to foster economic growth and development in the region.

16.08.2012

Source: The National

Health worker gets house 

COMMUNITIES at the Skotolan Sub Health Centre near Buka, in Bougainville, recently celebrated the opening of a new house for its health worker. 

The three-bedroom house will help improve staff punctuality and relieve them from the long daily walk to work. 

The house was built at a cost of K92,300 with funding provided by Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program Ltd (PNGSDP).

This is part of a K4 million project funding support by the company to the United and Catholic churches to rehabilitate rundown infrastructure in the health and education sectors.   

Since 2008, both churches have been able to maintain and build new health and education facilities in over 23 project sites in the autonomous region.

A delegation of 20, comprising of representatives from the United Church, the Autonomous Bougainville government and PNGSDP, which was represented by Lawrence Stephens, Ginia Siaguru and Mark Soi, travelled recently to Skotolan for the launch of the new house.

They were met by representatives from Skotolan and escorted to the site of the new building. 

Many health facilities became rundown because of the Bougainville crisis which prompted the PNGSDP board to decide on providing funding support to the United and the Catholic churches in 2008 as they already had education and health facilities in the region.  

Under the project funding agreement, the churches were to use K2 million in the health sector and K2 million in the education sector. 

Since 2008, 23 health centres and high schools have benefitted from PNGSDP’s grant.

ABG health chief executive officer Dr Anthony Pumpara acknowledged and congratulated the good work of health workers serving the people.

15.08.2012

Source: Radio New Zealand International

PNG’s Parliament should address Bougainville - constitutional specialist

An international law and constitutional specialist says Papua New Guinea’s new parliament should address the long-neglected commitment to to build the autonomy process in Bougainville.

The window for the independence referendum in the autonomous province opens in the PNG parliamentary term which has just begun.

Dr Andrew Ladley from Victoria University’s School of Government says the challenge of giving Bougainville the best chance of developing an autonomous government has largely been ignored for years by Waigani.

“Bougainville has every right I believe to feel largely neglected. The big issues are elsewhere in PNG that have primarily occupied the PNG government and Bougainville feels that its autonomy process has been stalled, it’s not getting much money, it’s not able to do much, it’s not able to evolve any of its powers and it’s still limping along like any of the other provinces.”

Dr Andrew Ladley.

15.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

EL NIÑO WARNING

By JASON GIMA WURI

PAPUA NEW GUINEA and other Pacific nations are about to experience one of the worst El Ninos ever to hit the Pacific Ocean.

This is according to the Island Climate Update, a monthly publication prepared by the Pacific National Meteorological Services, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric (NIWA) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) using funding from NZAID.

The Pacific is about to enter an episode of El Nino, however the signal is mainly being seen in the ocean temperature, and not yet in the atmospheric circulation, stated the publication.

It further stated that El Ninos are usually characterised by reduced easterly winds and warmer sea surface temperatures around the dateline in the equatorial Pacific. 

Monitoring buoy and satellite measurements have shown that the ocean is warmer than usual in the Central Pacific (by 0.7 Celsius). 

But that the easterly trade winds in the central Pacific are still blowing at their usual strength for this time of the year.

Normal climate patterns are expected across much of the Pacific for the next three months, but an El Nino could lurk on the horizon later this year, according to the latest Island Climate Update. 

However, slightly less rainfall is forecasted over the next three months for some island groups such as Tuvalu, Samoa, Tokelau, the Northern Cook Islands, the Society Islands and Wallis and Futuna. There looks to be lightly more rainfall for others such as Western and Eastern Kiribati, Tonga, Niue and Papua New Guinea.

After two years of La Nina conditions which led to drought in Tuvalu, Tokelau and Samoa, the Pacific is expected to experience El Niño conditions after August this year. 

El Nino conditions usually cause less rainfall over many of the Pacific Islands, particularly in the western Pacific, and more rainfall near the equator in the central Pacific.

Attempts to get more information from our local PNG National Weather Service were unsuccessful as many of the Forecasters seem to be absent from work.

For more information, or if you would like to subscribe to the Island Climate Update or a monthly newsletter, please contact your National Meteorological Service.

14.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS FIRM ON AUTONOMY

By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President, CHIEF JOHN MOMIS has been praised for his bold stand to see autonomy work in Bougainville.

RADIO NEW DAWN FM today received calls from listeners after listening to the replay of the TALK BACK show held in Port Moresby last week.

They said that ABG President must be praised for his continued commitment to autonomy and to see it work on Bougainville with the funding support of the PAPUA NEW GUINEA national government.

Like in Port Moresby many in Bougainville have requested for a copy of President’s educational talk on FM 100 replayed by NEW DAWN FM last night and this morning.

14.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS ON REFERENDUM

By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President Chief JOHN MOMIS says that Bougainvilleans must be allowed to feel and taste autonomy before voting for the referendum in 2015.

He was talking on FM 100’s TALK BACK show replayed on New Dawn FM last night.

Chief MOMIS said for Bougainvilleans to vote properly they must be well informed on what autonomy is.

He says that he wants the people to be empowered by involving in economic activities instead of sitting around and waiting for handouts.

President MOMIS called on the National government to support the ABG to realize this goal.

14.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TOWN ORGANIZE

By Aloysius Laukai

SIXTY THREE families in Buka town will raise K124 each to contribute towards the uncompleted classroom at the Hahela Primary School.

From the total outstanding monies to complete the classroom which is 48 THOUSAND KINA ,63 Families within Buka town, Kokopau, Novah and Sohano will have to raise a total of SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWELVE KINA with the first installment of FIFTY KINA payable by this Friday.

And Parents of Buka students have set up a committee that would organize other activities to raise funds for the school.

Executives for Buka town are as follows, GABRIEL PANGTEI chairman,

Thomas Waikami representing Kokopau is the deputy chairman,Treasurer is Magareth Renget and secretary is HONA HOLAN and committee member representing Novah, PATRICK PETESON.

First meeting for the group will be held at the NEW DAWN FM Conference facility at 5 pm this Thursday.

14.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SCHOOLS DEMAND PAYMENT

By Aloysius Laukai

Secondary schools in Bougainville are in desperate need for urgent injection of funds to continue operating until the end of the school year.

AND two secondary schools are already calling on parents with outstanding schools fees from last year to complete these fees as soon as possible.

HUTJENA secondary school yesterday put out a service message calling on parents to make their payments because the school was having financial problems due to slow payment from the National Government to pay the second component of school fees.

AND the Bishop Wade Secondary school and the technical school have been relying heavily on garden food contributions from the communities around the school.

14.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

ONE DAY SUSPENSION

By Aloysius Laukai

Classes at the HAHELA PRIMARY School were suspended today by the Bougainville Education Board to allow the School’s Board of Management, the Parents and Citizens and the Teachers of the school to iron differences between the three groups that has developed over the last three months.

AND the three groups met at the School grounds to listen to teachers and Board members explain why this situation was allowed to develop.

Explanation from the Teacher’s representative, MRS. MISIRARI said that because the Board was not working the teachers were finding it difficult addressing many issues that were affecting students learning at the school.

These included lawless activities at the school, Not enough classrooms and students were sharing school materials.

Also some grades had more than sixty students making it difficult for a teacher to handle as the required ratio per teacher was one to 25.

Chairman of the Board, DR. JOE VILOSI also explained that due to work commitment he was not able to attend to the school’s programs.

After several heated discussions all agreed to break into groups and fundraise to complete one uncompleted Classroom that should ease the school’s problem once completed.

The fundraising of FIFTY KINA per family will come under the following groups, HANGAN, HUTJENA, HAHELA/KUBU, IETA and Buka TOWN that covers NOVAH, KOKOPAU and SOHANO island.

Parents have until this Friday to pay in their first FIFTY KINA.

13.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

USE NGI VOLUNTEERS

By Aloysius Laukai

General Manager for TEAM BOUGAINVILLE, WILLIE MASIU today called on PNG SPORTS FEDERATION to utilize Volunteers and Technical officials from the New Guinea Islands in the coming PNG GAMES to be held in RABAUL later this year.

MR. MASIU said that each code tournament directors should identify referees, scorers and other technical officials within the NGI to volunteer for the games.

He said that it would be expensive to fly in volunteers from Port Moresby and other centers to officiate at the games.

MR. MASIU said that this could be a good opportunity for the NGI officials to gain experience and get exposure at these games.

The General Manager for Team Bougainville said that schools around the East New Britain province could be used to act as scorers for the games.

MR. MASIU said as NGI would be hosting the game it was only proper for NGI officials to fully participate.

He said games that are not played in the NGI can take in their officials.

Bougainville will have a strong contingent of 500 athletes including officials and support staff to this games scheduled for November this year.

13.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

NO MORE DEATHS

By Aloysius Laukai

Trainer for the one-week Village Birth Attendants, SR. CELINE TUSSALAH wants Bougainville to reduce the Infant Motarlity Rate on Bougainville to ZERO.

Speaking at the closing of the VBA workshop last Friday, SR.TUSSALAH said that Bougainville needs to train more Village Birth Attendants to reduce the number of deaths occurring in the rural areas of Bougainville.

She called on Health Facilities to make sure waiting houses for pregnant mothers are built near health institutions to save mothers from working long distances to deliver their babies.

SR. TUSSALAH said that she used to train a lot of Nurses and she was happy to work with WORLD VISION to train village women to help in their communities.

She called on the participants not to see themselves as Nurses or Health workers but helpers in their communities.

13.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

POLICE MINISTER HAPPY

By Aloysius Laukai

The ABG Minister for POLICE and Vice President, PATRICK NISIRA (picture) today praised members of the Bougainville Police Service and the Community Auxiliary Police for their outstanding efforts in ensuring a safe and secure environment for the recently conducted General Elections.

This was the first major operation involving the community auxiliary Police and the Bougainville Police Service from all three regions working together and it worked well said MR. NISIRA.

The minister said that despite earlier speculations that the polling would be interrupted by unrest, the early and on-going intervention carried out by the Bougainville Police Service and the presence of the Community Auxiliary Police in their villages ensured that no such activity occurred.

13.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

TWO RE-APPOINTED

By Aloysius Laukai

Two Bougainville members have retained their ministries when the Prime Minister PETER O’NEIL announced his cabinet last week.

However reports have been confusing as they were given different constituencies in the official announcement.

The member for Central Bougainville, JIMMY MIRINGTORO was given his Communication ministry whilst the member for South Bougainville, STEPHEN KAMMA PIRIKA has been given the new AUTONOMY ministry which could have moved away from the old Ministry for Bougainville Affairs.

New Dawn FM managed to clarify the report and has confirmed that the two Bougainville members have retained their ministries.

13.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Release Bougainville fund

A businessman has urged the National Government to release the K100 million committed to the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Kandaso Napi, a Lae-based businessman said the Government should not hold on to the funds any longer because the reconstruction work on Bougainville is not complete.

“There is a lot of work to be done with that money. Give the money to the Momis administration and they can do what they like with it,” Mr Napi told the Post-Courier yesterday.

Mr Napi, who started his trucking firm in Bougainville at the height of the Bougainville copper mine operation, said PNG owes a lot to Bougainville and it was only fair that the money was given as a token of appreciation to the people of the region.

“Everyone knows that PNG benefited a lot from the Bougainville copper mine’s revenue. It is time we repay our debts,” he said.

Mr Napi said Waigani was holding on to the money because the Autonomous Region government did not provide a plan on how it wants to use the money and while this may seem a very good reason, the people of Bougainville were facing hardships, partly created by the Government of PNG.

13.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Schools face closure

MANY schools throughout the country have closed and more are expected to close soon because the National Government has not honoured its commitment to release the second batch of its free education subsidy funds.

Schools that are mostly affected are boarding schools that do not have the money to feed their students. However, lack of free education funding is also affecting most schools throughout the country, including day schools.

Senior Education department officials could not be contacted yesterday to confirm the reasons why free education subsidy funds for the second half of the 2012 academic years have not been released on time to keep the schools going.

The Government has earmarked K350 million for the second half of the year but it is not known when the money will be released.

Ula Pokana, principal of Gerehu Secondary School, in the National Capital District, raised these concerns during a Parents and Citizens Association meeting at the school two weeks ago.

Mr Pokana told parents the school would have no alternative but to close its doors and send the 1846 students home if they didn’t receive their share of the promised funds on time.

Principals of several schools confirmed that they are also affected, especially boarding technical colleges and secondary schools. Schools in the rural areas of the New Guinea Islands and Momase region are still waiting for the second batch of the school subsidy funds.

Head of a technical school in the New Guinea Islands told the Post Courier that he had to send the students home because they have run out of money to purchase food for the students.

“We are still waiting for the National Government through the Education department to release the second batch of our share under the free education policy,” the school principal said.

“We used to charge parents and students some fees, especially to pay for rations to feed the students. But we have not been charging and colleting any fees since the start of the free education policy beginning this year,” he said.

“But the funding is not forthcoming and we are struggling to maintain our operations. The problem is there is nothing we can do about it,” he said.

Some schools in Bougainville also reported that they have sent their students home because there is no money to buy food and to keep their generators running.

The principal of a technical school said he had no choice but to send his students home last week, advising them to wait at home until the Education office in Buka tells them that the funds have been sent by the Education department in Waigani.

“We had money when we charged parents some money on top of the school fees and that was basically to run the school and buy food for students. But we don’t have any money now and there is nothing we can do until we get the funds from Port Moresby,” the principal said. The Post Courier was told yesterday that several schools in NCD are also facing the same problems and have approached the Education office in Port Moresby.Two weeks ago in Alotau, a group of teachers from rural high schools and a technical college attempted to see their leaders who were camping there to tell them that they were still waiting for their funds. 

12.08.2012

Source: EM-TV

President of ABG Upset Over Funds Withheld 

President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, John Momis, is not happy about the bureaucratic stand off which has resulted in the people not having access to 100 million kina that belongs to them.

He says it’s unbecoming for the bureaucracy to continue to impose needless conditions on the ABG.

10.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

REDUCE RISK

By Aloysius Laukai

About 30 Bougainville women die each year during child birth and this can be reduced further according to the CEO for Health Division DR. ANTHONY PUMPARA.

He was speaking at the closing of a five day village birth attendant’s workshop at the Kuri village resort today.

The workshop was organized by World Vision’s Rescue Children and youth from HIV and AIDS project which is currently targeting the Tewa, Mahari and Torokina Constituencies.

DR. PUMPARA said that previously his division has been training nurses at Health Centers on how to attend to these mothers during childbirth.

He said he was pleased that NGO’s are also assisting by training villagers to assist mothers especially when they are in the remote areas.

About Fourteen women from TEWA and MAHARI Constituencies graduated as village birth attendants and received certificates and including a First Aid kit each.

10.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

CONTINUE PARTNERSHIP

By Aloysius Laukai

World Vision’s Bougainville Program Manager, BONIFACE WADARI says that World Vision will continue to partner with the Health Division and other NGO partners to reduce infant Mortality rate throughout Bougainville.

He was speaking at the closing of the five day Village Birth Attendant’s workshop in Buka today.

MR. WADARI said that WOLRD VISION ran two other trainings prior to this workshop in the districts.

He called on the participants to put into practice what they have learned and start saving lives in the villages.

MR. WADARI said that risks in the communities are high and the participants first job was to encourage mothers to deliver their babies in Health centers instead of their homes.

10.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

UNITY FOR BOUGAINVILLE

By Aloysius Laukai

The member for North Bougainville, LOUTA ATOI yesterday called on the people of Bougainville to unite and move Bougainville forward.

He said Bougainville had a huge potential to become a prosperous nation only if the leaders are united and work with their people to develop economic activities for the region.

MR. ATOI said that Bougainville was blessed with natural resources in which if developed properly can earn huge monies for the region.

He was talking on New Dawn FM after returning from the first parliament session in Port Moresby.

10.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

COCOA FUNDS

By Aloysius Laukai

Cocoa farmers throughout Bougainville will be assisted with funds to improve productivity of their cocoa blocks if they get organized and seek assistance.

This is contained in an awareness message from the Cocoa Board office in Buka to the people of Bougainville.

The message clearly states that farmers have to select one credible lead partner in which funds would be released through.

The message from the office of the Productive Partnership in Agriculture Project said that those farmers who missed out on the first round can submit their proposals for funding this second round.

The program is funded by World Bank to support smallholder cocoa blocks in East New Britain and Bougainville and small coffee block owners in the Highlands region.

An awareness team is currently touring Bougainville to further inform the people of this project.

10.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MEMBER JOINS OPPOSITION

By Aloysius Laukai

The member for NORTH BOUGAIUNVILLE, LOTA ATOI yesterday explained why he opted to join BELDEN NAMAH and his group in the opposition ranks.

He told New Dawn FM that he had to move with BELDEN NAMAH and his group as he believed in the leadership of new breed leaders like BELDEN NAMAH who had the heart for the people of Bougainville.

MR. ATOI said he did not want to work with old politicians like the former Prime Ministers, PAIAS WINGTI, SIR JULIUS CHAN and the Chief himself SIR MICHAEL SOMARE because he strongly believes that PAPUA NEW GUINEA desperately needs new and vibrant leaders to get it into the next level.

He called on the people of North Bougainville to remember that he will still have the same level of Government services and funds to deliver to his people.

MR. ATOI however said that under the leadership of BELDEN NAMAH the opposition has organized itself to provide the check and balance to the government of Papua New Guinea.

AND he also said that as a member of the opposition he would be in a better position to question the government on issues affecting Bougainville today.

He said if BELDEN NAMAH becomes the Prime Minister, Bougainville’s issues can be addressed properly and quickly instead of the speed the current process is going on and on.

10.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Vba Training ends

By Aloysius Laukai

Twenty village birth attendents received their certificates at the Kuri village resort after completing five days training at the World Vision Conference in Buka town.

The training was organized by World vision's Rescue children and youth from Hiv and aids project.

The facilitator was Celine Tusalah a specialist midwife trainer who recently completed her masters as a trainer for the Health Division.

The certificates were presented by the CEO for Health, DR.ANTHONY PUMPARA.

Pictured are the participants who attended the training.

10.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Cabinet named

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill last night announced a 33-member Cabinet or National Executive Council with their respective portfolios or ministerial responsibilities.

 His Deputy Leo Dion will also be responsible for Inter-Government Relations.

 THE Party leader and Kandep MP Don Polye will take charge of Treasury, with Finance now separated. It will be headed by Tari Pori MP James Marape.

 Former President of PNG Law Society and Sinasina Yongomugl MP, Kerenga Kua, is Minister for Justice and Attorney General, and his colleague lawyer, Rimbink Pato is Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration.

 Lae MP and only woman Minister Loujaya Toni has taken charge of Religion, Youth and Community Development.

 Prime Minister O’Neill said the Cabinet line-up is balanced, with all the provinces and regions fairly well represented.

 He said although most of the Cabinet Ministers are first-timers, they have had both public and private sector experience and he is confident they will perform to expectations.

 “Whatever wealth of experience they have from the public and private sector will be put to good use to deliver Government policies and programs,” Mr O’Neill said.The full list of Cabinet Ministers are:

Prime Minister - Peter O’Neill.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Inter-Government Relations - Leo Dion.

 Minister for Treasury - Don Polye.

 Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investment - Ben Micah.

 Minister for Forest and Climate Change - Patrick Pruaitch.

 Minister for Transport - Ano Pala.

 Minister for Agriculture and Livestock - Tommy Tomscoll.

 Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration - Rimbink Pat.o

 Minister for Public Service - Sir Puka Temu.

 Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development - Loujaya Toni.

 Minister for Environment and Conservation - John Pundari.

 Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and technology - David Arore.

 Minister for Justice and Attorney General - Kerenga Kua.

 Minister for Defence - Fabian Pok.

 Minister for Education - Paru Aihi.

 Minister for Finance - James Marape.

 Minister for Petroleum and Energy - William Duma.

 Minister for Housing and Urban Development - Paul Isikiel.

 Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture - Boka Kondra.

 Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry - Richard Maru.

 Minister for Sports and Pacific Games - Justin Tkatchenko.

 Minister for Labor and Industrial Relations - Mark Maipakai.

 Minister for Health and HIV-AIDS - Michael Malabag.

 Minister for Police - Nixon Duban.

 Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources - Mao Zeming.

 Minister for Correctional Services - Jim Simatab.

 Minister for Communication and Information Technology - Jimmy Miringtoro.

 Minister for Mining - Byron Chan.

 Minister for Works and Implementation - Francis Awesa.

 Minister for Autonomous Regions - Steven Kama.

 Minister for Lands and Physical Planning - Benny Allan.

 Minister for National Planning - Charles Abel.

 Minister for Civil Aviation - Davies Steven.

10.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Toddler wins Trukai Rice boat

By PETERSON TSERAHA

Just K3.70 for a packet of one kilogram Trukai rice has made a young two-year-old Buka girl, Larisha Baramun, to be a winner of a 19 foot 30 horse-powered banana boat worth at around K12,000 to K15,000 from the Trukai rice Banana boat promotion.

 Larisah’s father, an employee of Elutu Enterprises in Buka Larry Baramun was lost for words when he went to get the boat on behalf of his daughter.

 Out of 2884 entries in Buka alone Larisah was the lucky one chosen. Participating entries came from Alotau, Kimbe, Rabaul, Kavieng which added up to 10,000 but winners were from only Buka and Kimbe.

“I was really surprised and now I am happy my child has won this competition,’’ Mr Baramun said. “My daughter with her baby-sitter came shopping in Buka town and bought a packet of rice, filled up the entry form, cut out the logo and put it into the entry box simple as that.’’

 “I thank Trukai for giving us clients a chance to participate in this kind of promotion competition, it kind of like rewards us for buying Trukai rice.” 

Trukai sales manager in Buka Mickey Roberts thanked the winner for being patient for the delay by Ela Motors to ship the boat from Alotau to Buka. 

10.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Member thanks

By Aloysius Laukai

The re-elected member for North Bougainville,LOUTA ATOI today thanked the people for having faith in him and voting him to serve them in parliament in the next five years.

He made these calls on New Dawn FM this morning.

MR.ATOI said that the one year stint had moulded him

.to give them the best in the next parliament.

He promised to work closely with the Autonomous Bougainville Government whislt serving hus people.

MR ATOI said that he had plans to fast track water and sanitation projects in his electorate.

He said he had just spent Three Hundred Thousand kina on water tanks from the total allocated funds of ONE POINT FIVE MILLION KINA.

These tanks are now ready for distribution.

He mentioned other outstanding projects for women just waiting for suppliers to complete the orders hefore they can be delivered.

Or reporter was able to see new sawmills, water tanks and containers of materials ready for distribution which clearly shows that continuity eventualy pays off good dividend in the end.

And the people of North Bougainville will benefit from their actions.

10.08.2012

Source: The National

Ministries for 32 

By JEFFREY ELAPA

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill believes he has picked a “balanced” cabinet with the experience to build the country during its stay in office.

It included first-term female MP Loujaya Toni, who was named minister for religion, youth and community development.

A key post went to T.H.E Party leader Don Polye, who will be in charge of treasury while the justice and attorney-general ministry went to Kerenga Kua, who stood as an independent.

In other important positions, Paru Ahi (People’s National Congress) was made education minister, Fabian Pok (United Resources Party) defence, James Marape (PNC) finance, Nixon Duban (PNC) police minister and the health and HIV/AIDS portfolio went to Michael Malabag (PNC).

“There are some who have served in cabinet in the past,” O’Neill said last night.

“A handful of ministers are new to both parliament and cabinet, but they come with a wealth of experience from the private sector and business that this government will fully utilise.

“There are some who will feel they have missed out, but we can’t satisfy everyone.

“I am confident this team will deliver the development programmes and policies that our people embraced by voting us overwhelmingly back into government.”

O’Neill spent yesterday reviewing the ministries with chief secretary to government, Manasupe Zurenuoc, and government legal advisers before approving the list for announcement and gazetting.

“It is a balanced team,” he said.

Most of the ministers in his previous government were retained.

Twelve new MPs were handed ministries, including three from past parliaments. O’Neill’s PNC Party, which won 27 seats, was allocated 13 ministries.

Besides the prime minister, the others are Ano Pala (transport), Aihi (education), Mara­pe (finance), Paul Isikeli  (housing and urban development), Boka Kondra (tourism, arts and culture),  Malabag (health), Duban (police), Mao Zeming (fisheries and marine resources), Jimmy Miringtoro (communication and information technology),  Francis Awesa (works and implementation), Benny Allan (lands and physical planning) and Charles Abel (national planning).

Polye’s party has been awarded the next highest number of ministerial positions including the deputy prime minister’s post to Leo Dion.

Dion, who will also head the inter-government relations ministry, is joined by Polye (treasury), David Arore (higher education, research, science and technology) and Labour and Mark Maipakai (industrial relations minister).

The United Resources Party, which has seven MPs, received three cabinet posts – William Duma (petroleum and energy), Steven Kama (autonomous regions) and Pok (defence).

The People’s Party received two ministries –Davis Steven (civil aviation) and  John Pundari (environment and conversation).

Patrick Pruaitch and Jim Simatab of the National Alliance were given forest and climate change and correctional services respectively.

From the People’s Progress Party, Ben Micah was given public enterprises and state investments and Byron Chan got mining.

The People’s Democratic Movement’s Tommy Tomscoll got agriculture and livestock.

Other ministers are Social Democratic Party’s Justin Tkatchenko (sports and Pacific games); United Party’s Rimbink Pato (foreign affairs and immigration); and independent candidate Richard Maru (trade, commerce and industry).

09.08.2012

Source: ESBC - press release 20120809

WELCOME ON BOARD MR. JACQUES!

The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper Limited (ESBC) welcome that Mr. Jean-Sébastien Jacques (picture) joined the company's board of directors. "We understand this as a strong commitment to the future of Bougainville Copper and the re-opening of the Panguna mine," says ESBC President Axel G. Sturm. Mr. Jacques is the London based President of Rio Tinto's copper operations.

Since many years no senior Rio Tinto officer had attended Bougainville Copper's board if directors. 

09.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Lera says Bougainville needs more

By Tapo Tovilu

The newly elected Regional member for Bougainville, JOE LERA (picture) says Bougainville needs more revenue if it wants to independently run its affairs.

He said Bougainville needs about one billion kina per annum to run all its program.

The regional member says that the only avenue currently for Bougainville to source all the funds it needs is to re-open the Panguna mine and also establish other additional industries.

He added that Bougainville has rich mineral resources

That can source more than enough funds to sustain it as a country on its own.

MR.LERA said that the opportunities were there but it all would depend on the political will by its leaders.

09.08.2012

Source: Bougainville Copper Limited 

Press Release  

BOUGAINVILLE COPPER LIMITED (BOC) 

The  directors  of  Bougainville  Copper  Limited  announce  the  following  results  of  the  company  for the  six  months  ended  30  June  2012  which  have  been  independently  reviewed  together  with comparable results for six months to 30 June 2011. 

The  result  for  the  six months  ended  30  June  2012  was  a  net  loss  of  K3.3  million  (AUD$1.5m) compared to a net loss of K3.8 million (AUD$1.4m) for the corresponding period last year.  

Events of significance to the company have occurred recently. 

In July, BCL Management visited Bougainville, and held fruitful talks with landowner 

representatives from all the key communities with a direct stake in the Panguna mine. 

The exchange of views was positive and constructive, supporting the view of the Autonomous 

Bougainville Government President John Momis that the great majority of Bougainvillean’s are in favour of a re‐start of operations at Panguna.  Talks are on‐going. 

The smooth passage of the PNG National election and the formation of a new government headed by Prime Minister Peter O’Neil including many experienced and pro

‐development leaders is also seen as positive for the re‐negotiation of the Bougainville Copper Agreement. 

The Bougainville Copper Foundation is facilitating an extension of broadcast radio services to all points in the region, enabling a new and effective form of communication for the people of 

Bougainville. 

The Autonomous Bougainville  Government is focussed on returning its seat of operations to 

Arawa, where services including banking, communications, airport, roads and public health have been recently up‐graded. 

Within the company, President of Rio Tinto’s international copper operation, Mr Jean‐Sebastien Jacques, has joined the board of Bougainville Copper Limited.  The Chairman Mr Peter Taylor believes that Mr Jacques, who is a senior executive within the Rio Tinto group, will bring significant expertise and experience to the Board . 

Rio Tinto expertise, together with that of outside experts, continues to be applied to the up‐

graded Order of Magnitude Study defining the parameters of a re‐started Panguna operation. 

Income from investments rose during the period, although a loss was recorded.  Selective selling of equities is expected to continue to meet development expenses.   

  Click here to read BCL's entire 1st half year report !  

09.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

K100m fund delay confirmed

Autonomous Bougainville Government has confirmed this newspaper report regarding the K100m promised by the National Government for Bougainville.

President of ABG John Momis, when commenting on yesterday’s Post-Courier article titled, Government Witholds B’ville K100m, said the story reflected the current position with regard to the release of the first tranche of funds promised to Bougainville for High Impact Projects (HIPs), agreed jointly by the ABG and the National Government at the JSB of February, 2011.

Since that date there have been much discussions and exertions by both governments but despite almost a year and a half of discussions, the ABG and the people of Bougainville have not benefitted from a single toea of the funds promised.

The president was careful to note that the current impasse is not political but represents more of a bureaucratic stand-off. He noted that it was un-becoming for the bureaucracy to continue to impose needless conditions on the ABG. It would seem as if the National Government bureaucracy was constantly moving the bar required to access the funding. 

He stressed the point that the ABG was an Autonomous Government and should not be treated as if it was a mere bureaucratic entity. The JSB Decision and the joint obligations of the Bougainville Peace Agreement had to be mutually respected.

For the record, all of the funding proposals for the utilisation of the first K100m have been carefully prepared, reviewed and costed in joint exercises by officials of the ABG and officials of the National Government departments and submitted to the appropriate entities in Waigani.

He says it is therefore a misstatement to say that projects have not been fully identified or submitted to Waigani.

For the first K100m, the ABG has identified some 77 projects, all fully costed and with cash flow projections. Mr Momis noted that ABG had done its homework.

Moreover, the ABG, through the Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) has established a Project Management Unit (PMU) in the Office of the Chief Administrator to implement and monitor HIPs and have put in place all of the necessary mechanisms to receive the funds.

He stressed that the unavailability of the first K100m has caused undue hardship on the people of Bougainville. Included in the K100m is the annual Restoration and Development Grant of K15m which is a commitment under the Bougainville Peace Agreement and which the ABG had previously received at the start of each financial year. Because this grant has now been included in the overall funding framework of the HIP its non-availability means that important work that would have been carried out in the districts of Bougainville in consultation with COEs and district administrations has come to a virtual standstill. Projects such as construction of aid posts, classrooms and water systems and other district projects have not been able to proceed. This has resulted in considerable hardship for people in remote villages throughout Bougainville.

The remaining K85m would be utilised on the 77 identified and approved projects. Of this sum, funds have been also earmarked for peace and reconciliation activities, various economic projects, infrastructure projects, including feeder roads and for a shipping vessel for regular shipping services to the atolls. While in themselves, these smaller projects may not be regarded as “macro projects” in the definition of HIPs, they are of high impact value to the people of Bougainville coming out of the crisis.

The remaining funds to be advanced over the next four years would be applied to a few selected HIPs which will have residual value for all Bougainvilleans. The development priorities will be set by the ABG.

President Momis stressed that Bougainville had a lot of “catching up” to do and time was not on its side. The people of Bougainville will soon have to make a political decision on its future and they must see that there are concrete benefits accruing from an autonomous relationship with the National Government.

Lastly, the President noted that his Minister of Finance, Albert Punghau and the Chief Administrator Lawrence Disin recently met with Secretary Steven Gibson of the Department of Finance and was given assurance that the funds would be released. The Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc directed the release of funds to Bougainville and further directed officials that the usual PIP policy guidelines would be applied to the use of these funds.

President Momis noted that the funding for 2012 was also approved by an Act of the National Parliament and by an Act of the Bougainville House of Representatives. It is the law of the land and should be respected if the Rule of Law and good governance are to prevail.

He urged those who would wish to play games to stop. He noted that officials of the National Government departments, in particular, the Department of National Planning, Finance and the Chief Secretary for Government have been working well with the ABG side to draw down the Restoration and Development Grant and to the HIP funding to implement progress on Bougainville. 

“This is a serious matter that affects the lifeblood of the people of Bougainville and too much time has been wasted in needless pursuits,’’ said Mr Momis.

09.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Momis holds talk with Digicel team

By Joseph Morokana

Mobile Phone Company – Digicel has been commended for its part in restoring vital communication services and helping towards a major peace progress in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Bougainville President, Mr John Momis had expressed his praise on the communication service during his meeting with Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer Mr John Mangos and Chief Technical Officer Shiva Kumar in Port Moresby recently. 

“The Provision of communication service in Bougainville by Digicel has contributed to peace building and also enabled better exchange of information between the remote areas and the rest of the country,” said Mr Momis. 

There are a total of 33 Digicel towers distributed throughout Bougainville. Hahela tower is the main switch and the linkage towers are located at Ovovois in Tinputz, Iraka in Mabiri, Hantoa in Selau and Pakia Gap in Panguna.

The other towers are at Lontis, Eltupan, Hanahan, Hoko, Malasang, Lihu (Buka town), Tendu (Tinputz), Kekesu, Kapesia, Wakunai, Manetai, Loloho, Pere in Bana, Pavaire village in Arawa, Keriau in Bana, Urai in Siwai, Tokaino, Buin town, Namuanek in Buka, Hamatana and Tanhil in the Haku Constituency. There is one under construction at Togarau in Wakunai and three new ones being proposed at Nissan, Atsinima and Torokina station.

Three of the towers in Makaki Point in Kieta, Arawa, Koromira Aropa and Namuanek in Buka have been decommissioned due to vandalism.

Mr Momis had also discussed with the Digicel team about other issues. 

The President of the Autonomous Region wants to promote a closer working relationship with Digicel in future.

09.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

O’Neill delays cabinet line-up

Leo Dion is deputy PM

By GORETHY KENNETH

PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has appointed East New Britain Governor Leo Dion as the Deputy Prime Minister.

In a surprise move which will generate a wide range of reactions from across the nation, Mr O’Neill announced Mr Dion’s appointment at the Government House, despite not living up to his promise of announcing ministerial portfolios for his 22 other Members that were appointed and sworn in yesterday, most of them relatively new.

Among them is woman parliamentarian and Lae MP, Loujaya Toni.

“Today concludes our formal line-up of Cabinet, which is a total of 33 as required by our law,” Mr O’Neill said.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank all the leaders of the coalition partners and especially the leader of THE Party (Don Polye), the second biggest party on the floor of Parliament, for agreeing to one of their members becoming the Deputy Prime Minister of the country,” he said.

“Today’s ministerial line-up, as many of you will notice, has got a fresh (outlook)… but I am certain that they will perform to their very best and to the expectations of our people. We will perform to our very best and I think today is a great start to making sure that Papua New Guineans are served…” 

Mr Dion said it was a hard call to accept the second top position but assured everyone present that with his experience, he will do his best for the people.

It was reported on the social media yesterday that “Although Leo Dion is a quality choice too – he has the experience, respect and leadership qualities required – from the perspective of purely the numbers’ game which is so crucial in PNG politics, it is a rather illogical decision, and one that must have been made with a few distractions in mind – most importantly in this instance – the idea of ‘regionalism’.”

MPs sworn in as Ministers yesterday and Rimbink Pato, David Arore, Paul Isikiel, Richard Maru, Dr Fabian Pok, Nixon Duban, Jimmy Miringtoro, Tommy Tomscoll, Loujaya Toni, Kerenga Kua, Paru Aihi, Mark Maipakai, Justin Tatchenko, Michael Malabag, Jim Simatab, Byron Chan, Francis Awesa, Benny Allen, Davis Stevens, Steven Pirika Kamma and Boka Kondra.

The 10-member caretaker cabinet still remains and they include Don Polye -Treasury and Finance, Correctional Services, Labour, Industrial Relations, Immigration and Transport; Patrick Pruaitch - Housing, Urban, Provincial and Local Level Government and Forest; William Duma – Petroleum and Energy, Defence, Tourism and Art Culture and Autonomy and Autonomous Region (including Bougainville Affairs); Sir Puka Temu - Public Service, Agriculture and Livestock, Foreign Affairs and Trade; James Marape - Works, Implementation, Lands and Physical Planning, Education, Research and Science and Technology; Charles Abel - Commerce and Industry, Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs), Justice and Attorney General, Communication, Information and Technology; Mao Zeming – Fisheries, Marine Resource, Health, HIV Aids, Family Affairs , Youth Religion and Gender; Ben Micah –Public Enterprises, Sports and Pacific Game and Mining; and John Pundari - Environment, Climate Change and Civil Aviation. 

09.08.2012

Source: The National

O'Neill's new cabinet

Ministers of the O’Neill cabinet flanking former prime minister and PPP leader Sir Julius Chan (left), Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion and former prime minister and PDM leader Paias Wingti.

08.08.2012

Source: ABC Radio Australia - Pacific Beat

A new cabinet sworn in for Papua New Guinea

Now to Papua New Guinea and the final part of the election process where the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced his cabinet.

The line up will be approved by the Governor-general.

Mr O'Neill and a caretaker cabinet have neen running the country since the election results gave him a majority and there was a reconciliation with former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare.

For an update Bruce Hill spoke to our correspondent in Port Moresby, Firmin Nanol who reported from the swearing in ceremony.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Speaker:Firmin Nanol

  Listen here !  

08.08.2012

Source: Radio Ne Zealand International

PNG PM names Dion as his deputy

The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced his deputy as more details emerged of the new cabinet line-up.

The Deputy Prime Minister will be Leo Dion (picture), the Governor of East New Britain Province.

Mr O’Neill has already signalled that Mr Polye will hold the Treasury and Finance portoflio.

Our correspondent Oseah Philemon says Mr Dion’s appointment is probably related to regionalism.

He says while many thought that Don Polye would be offered the Deputy Prime Ministership, that would have meant two Highlands MPs in the top two positions which could be poorly received in other regions.

“So Peter O’Neill had to really trade it off. If he gave the portfolio of Treausyr and Finance to Don Polye, that is a very senior ministry and he couldn;t also give him the Deputy Prime Ministerhip. He (O’Neill) has got more than ninety members in his camp and he’s got to please everybody. So I think the best trade off was to give a very senior position, like Deputy Prime Minister, to the people of the islands region.”

Meanwhile, Loujaya Toni, one of the three women MPs, has reportedly been sworn in as a minister at Government House.

Powes Parkop has been declared the winner of the National Capital District in the last election result.

Mr Parkop retains the seat he first won at the 2007 election, giving his Social Democratic Party a third MP.

08.08.2012

Souce: EMTV

New Bougainville Governor gets down to business 

New Governor of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Joe Lera (picture) in an exclusive interview with EMTV outlined his five year development plan.

He already has a 21 page document with specific plans, and developing the human resource is his main focus.

He’s entrance onto the political arena is definitely a game changer for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He will allow the political process to start at the grass roots level.

He knows that the Autonomous region has its own government and he will work in partnership with President John Momis.

Within the five years of his term, the date of the referendum will fall; he knows that economically Bougainville will not be ready for full pledge independent come 2015.

In his mind he’d rather be an independent MP, but because of financial restrictions he decided to join a party.

EMTV: ABG Governor in business 

08.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Me’ekamui reaffirms stand

THE ME’EKAMUI Tribal government backed President Momis’ call on misleading information on the operational status of the defunct Panguna mine. 

This followed middlemen signing agreements without following procedures and not consulting the Autonomous Bougainville Government(ABG) and the Me’ekamui Government’s respectively on the re-opening of the mine.

Traditionally elected President of the Me’ekamui Government of Unity Philip Miriori said that all of the land and natural resources are on customary land and there is no land registration.

Mr Miriori said that there is no survey or deeds on the land and people have come to our country to pay people large amount of money and have them sign documents that contain bogus information to mislead investors. 

He said that the Panguna legal action against Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL)-RioTinto is in the courts and BCL is not mining anywhere on Me’ekamui land.

“Their bogus licences are expired and until all issues are resolved, they can hype their stock exchange in free speech but they won’t be mining on our land.” Mr Miriori said. According to Mr Miriori the customary tribal land is under the auspices exclusively of the Me’ekamui Government.

Miriori is one of the land owners as well as Vice President Takaung and has not signed any authorisation for using their property nor do they have the governments signed and sealed signature upon any document to date.

“This is simply a stock hype with no foundation or basis in reality,” Mr Miriori said. 

“Desperate people do desperate things.” 

“This action is totally irresponsible and can’t be achieved without permission of the Me’ekamui Government,” he said.

The Me’ekamui will not sanction this stock hype attempt at deceiving the unsuspecting public, the only true statement was there are no geological reports to substantiate anything because people are only dealing with blank paper.

08.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Government withholds Bougainville’s K100 million 

By GORETHY KENNETH

THE National Government is ready to release the outstanding K100 million from last year to Bougainville, but it will only do so after certain outstanding issues are resolved to Waigani’s satisfaction.

It is understood that the K100 million is part of a K500 million package, with annual disbursements of K100 million.

One of the reasons why the National Government is reluctant to allocate the money immediately is that it is yet to receive credible documents funding proposals on projects, including one or more impact projects that can be funded from the public funds.

The Autonomous Bougainville Government headed by President John Momis and his provincial administrations are yet to submit their proposals to Waigani. 

The first K100 million, which was to have been allocated last year, is from the K500 million that the National Government had allocated and promised for Bougainville, outside of the normal annual budget of K80 million that the ABG receives annually.

Last year, the National Government through the Chief Secretary’s office was a little bit worried about the first release of the money because there was no concrete proposal for use of the K100 million.

The project proposals should include one major impact project funded by the National Government direct to Bougainville. This impact project has not yet been fully identified.

The Government also agreed last year to dispatch the money quarterly – the first K25 million in the first quarter, but this did not happen because of the delay in preparations by both the ABG and the National Government.

Last week in Alotau, the two Bougainville MPs, Steven Pirika Kamma and Jimmy Miringtoro pledged to help the National Government see that these funds are used for impact projects that will benefit all the population of Bougainville.

The Bougainville Affairs Ministry will be announced today, so we should be know what the outcome of this K100 million will be and how it will be distribute and used.

07.08.2012

Source: EM TV

PM to announce full cabinet

07.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Prep schools improved

By Joseph Morokana

There has been a positive improvement in the number of new elementary schools established in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB) over the last 10 years.

Elementary Education Coordinator, Mr Sedi Palin said the number of existing schools in ARB were 383 at present which is 80% of the required elementary infrastructures in the Districts.

“We have 383 elementary schools operating at present and the maximum number of schools needed is around 400,” said Mr Palin. 

Mr Palin said due to the current increase of elementary school children to about 27,000, ABG leaders and the community should change their mindset and focus more on the importance of elementary education.

He urged our leaders to put more emphasis on the development of elementary education as it was the foundation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Policy the ABG is embarking on.

“We should concentrate more on making sure our children have the interest and commitment to enrol and complete their basic elementary education. This will make a sustainable impact on the number of children attending classes at the upper primary and secondary schools,” Mr Palin said.

Figures given by the Elementary Office have shown 65 new elementary schools pending registration, and a total of 856 teachers currently teaching at the elementary schools in the Region. 

The distribution of Elementary schools throughout the Autonomous Region showed that Buka 1 has 17 elementary schools; Buka 2 has 27, Selau Suir 17, Tinputz 24, Wakunai 30, Kunua Keriaka &Hahon 16, Torokina 18, Arawa/Kieta 52, Nissan/Atolls 20, Bana 33, Siwai 31, Panguna 9 and Buin 21.

Mr Palin added that in 2013 each District should propose and plan for the setting and registering of 3 new elementary schools development. 

However, Mr Palin has also challenged some teachers in remote schools to consider their job as a profession to fulfil and practice.

He said that teachers in remote schools had not been committed to their duties and have been absent from classes.

“Teachers in remote schools are not serious enough – and today teaching has been taken as just another job where they are getting paid for doing nothing. Teaching is all about punctuality, commitment and professionalism to live up to,” he stressed.

Mr Palin added that schools should have an environment that was conducive to the students’ learning needs – and have classrooms decorated with educational materials and good building infrastructure.

He said that Buka District was the only area that had almost all permanent building infrastructure.

06.08.2012

Source: Islands Business

Newly elected PNG Prime Minster targets corruption 

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has told SBS News his government plans to crack down on corruption, in his first interview since being re-elected to the nation’s top job.  

PORT MORESBY, PNG (SBS) ---- Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has told SBS News his government plans to crack down on corruption, in his first interview since being re-elected to the nation’s top job. After 12 months of political instability and a lengthy election process, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has told SBS News his government plans to crack down on corruption, in his first interview since being re-elected to the nation’s top job. Speaking of a massive deal with petroleum company Exxon Mobil that could see the nation's GDP double over the next two years, O'Neill said a sovereign wealth fund had been put together specifically to manage revenue coming from mineral developments in the country. “This is a unique opportunity for our country, basically, because our country has squandered similar opportunities in the past. My job now is to create an environment where these funds are managed properly.” O’Neill also spoke of his government’s willingness to support equal rights in parliament. “Papua New Guinea has had a change in its attitude towards women, and it’s encouraging to note that two ladies have been elected to parliament now, and although that is not enough, I think it is a good start.” O’Neill, originally from the Highlands region of the country, was re-elected in early August by a huge majority of 94-12 by members of parliament. There were no other nominees; however a last-ditch legal bid to halt proceedings failed. PNG’s new government is formed from a broad coalition of former leaders and senior parliamentary figures, including Sir Michael Somare, who was ousted as Prime Minister in August last year. “For them to come and give support to myself and other young leaders, to manage our country over the next few years is an indication of the maturity of politics our country,” O'Neill said.” 

06.08.2012

Source: SBS News

Peter O'Neill's first interview after re-election

06.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Landowners irate over BCL talks

By PATRICK TALU

THE talk of Rio Tinto subsidiary Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL)’s re-opening of its defunct Panguna copper mine will not be an easy task.

There is already a strong anti BCL feeling across the breath and width of the Island of Bougainville as the news of BCL’s intention to return to Panguna has been prominently hitting news headlines in recent times.

Chris Uma, the Defence Force Commander General of the Mekamui Government, former Bougainville Revolutionary Army General Sam Kauona, seven mining tenement licence area landowners and Bougainvilleans in general are opposing the move by BCL to reopen the once world’s third largest copper mine.

Mr Uma and his disarmed army who is manning the gate of the ‘No-Go-Zone’ and the Panguna special mining lease area responding to media statements said, “the talk of re-opening of Panguna mine is the final thing or not even been thought of,” Mr Uma told this reporter at Panguna mine after a fact finding mission last week.

“Me no laik harim displa toktok lon kam bek blong BCL, em ino stap lo tintin too (I don’t want to hear the talk of BCL returning, not even in my mind), Mr Uma said.

“Panguna bai reopen behain lo independence blo Bougainville. nogat independence, nogat Panguna mine (Panguna will only reopen after Bougainville gains independencence. No independence for Bougainville, no re-opening for Panguna,)” Mr Uma said.

He said the re-opening of Panguna mine is not a Panguna landowners issue any more. 

He said it’s a Bougainvillean issue and should there be any talk of reopening the mine, the entire Boungainvillean population are to be widely consulted and not for few politicians and handful of landowners to decide whether BCL returns or not.

“Bullet kisim body blo me first na blut i kapsait. Me baim pinis Panguna na ol lon blut blo me na narapela 20,000 pipol blong Bouganiville die , em blut blo ol baim displa island (I shed the first blood from the bullets and my blood paid off Panguna, the 20,000 Bougainvilleans who lost their lives their blood have paid for the island of Bougainville,” the soft spoken Mr Uma said.

Mr Kauona added that the re-opening of Panguna mine is a sensitive issue that cannot be lightly taken and for a few self interested people to talk about.

“There has to be a wider consultation with all stakeholders in the civil war and through that consultation, and if the people are happy to accept BCL, then so be it,” Mr Kauona said.

He said the very key stakeholders are the ex-combatants who forcefully shut down the mine and they have to be consulted along with all other stakeholders.

The former BRA General and now a private citizen who is seriously going into mineral exploration said if BCL has to return then it has to come under certain conditions including; agreeing to compensate the 20,000 lives lost, environment damage compensation of K10 billion as initially demanded by late Francis Ona, only to mine the currently special mining lease and not to touch the seven mining tenement licences (not negotiable), compensate ex-combatants, compensate PNG Defense Force soldiers who lost their lives in the civil war and ‘bell kol’, a customary way of initial compensation to make peace.

Recently, Paul Coleman, a senior executive of BCL has visited landowners of Panguna and Arawa and held discussion to re-open the mine.

It was reported that Mr Coleman has instructed local contractors to fast track an office building within Arawa Town in which this writer has confirmed being under initial mobilisation for construction.

Also ABG president John Momis has said that the negotiation by BCL with Panguna landowners was progressing well with the view of re-opening the mine.

A senior officee from ABG who spoke to this reporter in Buka at the weekend confirmed that ABG was in talks with BCL and landowners to find a way forward in resolving the issues. The office said there needs to be more and wider consultation made as the situation on the ground is fluid.

06.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Panguna resource owners refute claims

By PATRICK TALU

THE resources owners outside of the defunct Panguna Copper Mine of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville are adamnant that they will pursue their quest to own exploration and mining licences to develop their resources despite impediments from any political and interested external influences.

Refuting claims by the Autonomous Region of Bougainville President, John Momis, on the 2nd of August on this newspaper where he expressed concerns in which he alluded to the passing of a motion by his Parliament to recognise resource owners’ right to their mineral resources; more than six major landowners company directors said Mr Momis was ‘talking out of context’ and they will pursue aspiration.

Isinau Resources Holdings Ltd’s Vice Chairman and Director Sam Kauona, Joe Birunoim and Richard Birikos, Chairman of Baunapa Resources Ltd, Francis Makita (Chairman) Karato Resources Holdings Ltd, Jacob Betopa (Chairman) Pakasipan Resources Ltd, Conrad Benkenasi (Chairman) Kupe Resources Ltd, Michael Otoroa (Chairman) Bougainville Basin Resources and other directors of Avaipa Resources Ltd, and Erupia Resources Ltd have expressed grave concerns that the misleading media statement by Mr Momis about Canadian investor Morumbi Resources and the denying of the passage of a motion on the ABG Parliament to recognise Bougainvillain rights to their resources would affect their pursuit to do mining exploration and eventual mining.

The directors of Erupia Mining & Development Ltd, a Morumbi PNG subsidiary and Karato Mining & Development Ltd., another Morumbi PNG subsidiary said Mr Momis’ statement published on this paper last week was “misleading” and undermining the resource owners quest to obtain exploration licence and mine the mineral resource on their own.

“Momis is confused. Where does Momis stand and whose interest is he serving? The President doesn’t know what he is talking about,” Mr Kauona told this reporter in Arawa last Thursday.

The former Bougainville Revolutionary Army General said six out of the seven Mining Tenement (MT) area resources owners outside of the Panguna Special Mining Lease are already doing business with their Morumbi Resource.

“We are already into the business of exploration and drilling with our Morumbi Resource in compliance with Section 23 and 14 of the Bougainville Constitution which recognises Bougainville resources owners the rights to own and develop their resources. Isinau is in the third week of exploration and drilling by within 6 weeks, we will cover the entire Isinau foundry.

We are doing everything in compliance with the supreme laws of Bougainville. What has Momis and his government been doing in terms of mining and resource developments when the powers and functions have been drawn down seven years ago? Now what had prompted him to raise alarm? a furious Mr Kauona asked.

Mr Birunoim added that it was misleading for the president to make mention of Morumbi Resources and his newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Lindsay Semple for making misleading statement at the Toronto Stock Stock Exchange. 

“At no one time Mr Semple was mentioned in any statement posted on the stock market nor commenting anything on the passing of motion except this newspaper alone for publishing the news,” Mr Birunoim said.

An irate Mr Semple also called the Post Courier and categorically refuted Mr Momis as “misleading”.

The directors have further called onto Mr Momis to retract his statement and apologise to the six resources owners of Bougainville as his statement had detrimental effect on their exploration licence prospect.

“The resources owners said their current joint venture arrangement with Morubis has already produced results where there are projects like cattle ranching, rice farming and even building health facilities which are normally the case after any memorandum of agreement is signed for resources development.

“We are reaping rewards from our model of our 30-70 shares or benefit sharing arrangement with our partners. We don’t want anyone to stand on our way when are already benefiting from our business,” Mr Kauona added.

06.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Poor reporting on HIV

By Joseph Morokana

Poor Reporting Channels on HIV/AIDS Data and the lack of proper testing facilities have been highlighted as some of the contributing factors to effectively monitor the trend of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Bougainville.

About 23 Diocesan HIV/AIDS Counsellors from the various agency facilities met with the National Catholic AIDS Council (NCAC) Coordinator, Ms Justine McMahon and the Voluntary Counselling & testing (VCT) Coordinator, Sr Arnolda Kavanamur and the Monitoring at a one-day meeting at the Bougainville Diocese AIDS Office at the Hahela Parish last Tuesday.

The NCAC coordinator, Justine McMahon had specifically met with her officers to try and work out what should be done regarding the HIV&AIDS Program and how they can boost up the current stage of progress in the Region.

“In terms of financial support - It’s our part to help you succeed with your tasks – but then you should give us a good report back.” Ms McMahon said. 

National Catholic AIDS Council Report in 2012 have shown that - agency facilities have been undertaking Voluntary Testing & Counselling (VCT) Tests more with only a very limited tests being done on the HIV&AIDS entry points in Antenatal, Sexually transmitted Diseases (STIs) and Tuberculosis (TB).

“Other tests in the main HIV&AIDS entry points - Antenatal, STIs, and TB need to be conducted also. Your reports show that only more VCT have been done.” Sr Anorlda Kanavamur, the NCAC VCT Coordinator told the Counsellors.

The NCAC statistics in the first and second quarter of 2012 had shown that, VCT testings alone had accounted for almost 88 percent of all related HIV/AIDS tests coverage in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Sr Kavanamur also told the counsellors that they should use the current two HIV/AIDS Confirmatory facilities – Our Lady of Mercy VCT in Arawa and the Mary Mother of Hope at Hahela Parish in Buka if they needed to get their clients for confirmatory HIV/AIDS tests. 

“There are also factors that determine quality tests – and one is having proper facilities that are conducive to effective HIV testings,” said Sr Kavanamur. 

The HIV/AIDS Data from the Bougainville Diocese VCT Centre has indicated that only five Integrated Health Facilities have been conducting HIV/AIDS tests out of the total of 17 centres. 

06.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Caretaker government in place

By GORETHY KENNETH

PAPUA New Guineans will know who their Deputy Prime Minister will be when Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announces his full Cabinet on Wednesday.

Prime Minister O’Neill yesterday named his caretaker Cabinet at the Grand Papua Hotel in Port Moresby yesterday which was also officially gazetted.

He also announced that the Government is now bracing for the National Budget Session coming up in November, which will now be the full responsibility of the Cabinet once named this Wednesday.

Mr O’Neill will look after National Planning and Police until new Ministers are appointed and announced on Wednesday. 

“Deputy Prime Minister will be announced on Wednesday. There are no negotiations going on in the deputy prime minister, it’s already decided. You will be pleasantly surprised,” Mr O’Neill said.

Below is the line up:

* Don Pomb Polye - Treasury and Finance, Correctional Services, Labour, Industrial Relations, Immigration and Transport

* Patrick Pruaitch – Housing, Urban, Provincial and Local Level Government and Forest

* William Duma – Petroleum and Energy, Defence, Tourism and Art Culture and Autonomy and Autonomous Region (Bougainville Affairs) 

* Sir Puka Temu - Public Service, Agriculture and Live stock, Foreign Affairs and Trade

* James Marape-Works, Implementation, Lands and Physical Planning, Education, Research and Science and Technology 

* Charles Abel, Commerce and Industry, Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs), Justice and Attorney General, Communication, Information and Technology

* Mao Zeming – Fisheries, Marine Resource, Health, HIV Aids, Family Affairs , Youth Religion and Gender

* Ben Micah –Public Enterprises, Sports and Pacific Game and Mining and

* John Pundari-Environment, Climate change and Civil Aviation 

“These are basically the ministers that are going to look after the ministries over the next two days and of course, they will be re-distributed again on Wednesday to respective ministers as we finalise the discussions. So with these announcements I am pleased to announce that I am now signing these papers,” Mr O’Neill said.

“We are now structuring the government before we can start the work. We have spent three months in the election process and that process has taken too long but we have now come to an end…

“The Budget session coming up in November- we don’t have time to go through and delay any further formation of this government we want the ministers to participate fully in the formation of that budget and also have some very good number of legislative programs and legislations that we want to introduce in August so that is why I am pleased to announced that these are the main responsibilities that I have put forward,” he said.

05.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Bougainville support O'Neill

By Aloysius Laukai

All four Bougainville National members voted for Prime Minister Peter O'Neill when parliament voted for the Prime Minister on Monday.

Three members were with Mr O' Neill's camp in Samarai whilst one was with Belden Namah's camp in Rabaul.

Three that were in Milne Bay were the re-elected members for Central, Jimmy Miringtoro and Steven Pirika Kamma for South Bougainville.

And of course the Regional member JOE LERA.

The re-elected member for North Bougainville, Louta Atoi had to cross the floor to support his party leader Peter O'Neill before returning to the opposition.

05.08.2012

Source: EMTV

O'Neill Sworn In

05.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Rain in South Bougainville Destroys Roads and Bridges

By Aloysius Laukai

The continues down pour of heavy rain experienced in the last two weeks in parts of Southern Bougainville finally left a toll of destructions on Saturday night washing out most causeways in Siwai Buin and Bana blocking access to hospitals and business centers in Buin and Arawa out of reach. Many travelling public are being affected by this rain which also has caused damage to food gardens.

The ABG member for Ramu Hon. Thomas Pataaku has expressed concern on the disaster and wants government intervention to immediately reach the area to fix the roads and bridges washed away by the continues flooding and to support families experiencing shortage of food as a result of rain and flooding.

Reports reaching the UN office in Siwai have indicated families affected by shortage of food as a result of the rain and flooding.

Meanwhile, New Dawn FM also received distress signals from the people of Torokina District in South West Bougainville.

Report from Torokina District Office said that more than six thousand people are without food as their food gardens were destroyed by recent heavy rains.

They wanted immediate assistance from the Disaster and Emergency office in Buka.

04.08.2012

Source: EMTV

Belden Namah's Moving Speech

04.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude / Meekamui News

Reopening the Panguna mine is not what we need

by MEKAMUI | Mekamui News

IT’S A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE to have felt and it is sad to hear and see our Bougainville leaders talk about reopening the closed Panguna mine.

What do the leaders want? Do they care for the people and their land, or do they care for the money which will destroy land and ruin people’s lives?

Instead of finding other avenues to raise money, the Autonomous Bougainville Government leaders talk only about reopening the mine.

Is this the only way for Bougainville to go forward?

For the last 25 years since the mine was closed we, the grassroots people, have earned money from cocoa, copra and other commodities.

It’s very funny, though, that some of those leaders who are making big money from cocoa plantations that they own still talk about reopening the mine.

What went wrong? Or do they just want more money? More money, which means more destruction in the name of development.

In June I went up to Panguna and, when standing outside Pirurari village, I saw a few taro gardens on the side of the waste gravel where there was still some soil from when the mine stopped.

I asked Michael, the man from Pirurari, whether, if mining starts, he will plant taro there again.

He told me that the village people don’t want the mine reopened; it’s only the leaders who are talking about it.

Reopening Panguna mine is hazardous, so please leaders talk about agriculture, tourism, fishing, etc.

If you want to talk about Bougainville Copper Ltd, talk funding reconciliation, schools and medical centres because BCL has already got plenty out of our motherland and left it with a big scar.

03.08.2012

Source: Radio New Zealand International

Peter O’Neill elected as PNG Prime Minister

Peter O’Neill has been elected as Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister by newly-elected MPs.

PNG’s ninth parliament convened today despite results in three of the 111 electorates yet to be declared as vote counting continues for the general election.

Mr O’Neill was voted in by 94 MPs.

Mr O’Neill’s People’s National Congress won the most seats of any party in the general election and has formed a coalition government with several other political parties.

Earlier, MPs elected a new speaker, Theodore Zurenuoc.

Mr Zurenuoc is from the People’s Progress Party of a former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan which is part of Mr O’Neill’s coalition.

Mr Zurenuoc received votes from 88 MPs while the only other candidate, Francis Marus of the PNG Party, received 17.

The PNG Party’s Belden Namah is expected to be the opposition leader.

Mr O’Neill’s election comes year and a day after he was controversially voted in by MPs to replace the veteran Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in a parliamentary move subsequently ruled illegal by the Supreme Court.

Despite the two having been locked in a dispute over the Prime Ministership for most of the past year, Sir Michael has announced his support for a government led by Mr O’Neill.

03.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

The end of uncertainty. Is this a new era for PNG?

KEITH JACKSON

IT WAS A YEAR AGO that Peter O’Neill took over the reins of leadership from Michael Somare via Sam Abal – and it has been 12 months of political mayhem since.

This afternoon, having won an election with a commendable level of political organisation and strategic understanding, O’Neill was elected 94 votes to 12 in his own right as prime minister. Absent was the taint of a job deviously obtained and a parliament fragmented by internecine strife.

As new beginnings go, this is a promising one.

O’Neill has forged a coalition of considerable strength and he has shown that, in pursuing and attaining group leadership, coolness and reasonableness are more potent traits that aggression and volatility.

On the opposition benches sit Belden Namah and his men; Namah with time to reflect on whether boisterousness and threat are worth perpetuating if he is ever to realise his goal of leading Papua New Guinea.

I can’t help but feel that, despite the many flaws of the election just past, we have witnessed a new maturity and sense of proportion in the way Papua New Guinea has assembled its new government.

Much of the credit for this must be given to O’Neill but, as I have mentioned previously in PNG Attitude, when you see the calibre of so many of the new members of this parliament, you see a new breed of politician emerging.

This new generation certainly owes something to clan and tribal loyalties, but it also reveals a strong connection to experience in the world beyond – to education, career and interaction with modernity.

From this group of men and women, O’Neill has a wonderful opportunity to put together a ministry of talent and past attainment.

Sure, he will have to pay attention to the political composition of a complex coalition – such is the case in most governments these days – but the chance of great change is there.

There are some rogues who will need to be kept in check, and maybe even brought to book, and this will be a test, but overall this government looks like a very good one indeed.

The people of Papua New Guinea have done well in this election. We all know they deserve better in the future. Let’s hope the promise of this  new group of politicians can be delivered.

03.08.2012

Source: ABC Australian Network News

O'Neill sworn in as PNG prime minister

03.08.2012

Source: ABC Radio Australia News

O'Neill sworn in as PNG prime minister

Papua New Guinea's parliament has elected Peter O'Neill as the country's prime minister.

Mr O'Neill was the only nominee for the position and won the vote with the support of 94 members of parliament, with 12 voting against.

After the vote, Mr O'Neill was officially sworn in by the governor-general at a ceremony at Government House. 

It was the fourth time in just over a year that Mr O'Neill has taken part in such a ceremony.

Parliament convened on Friday for the first time since the general election to swear in MPs and elect a prime minister.

A last-minute legal bid to stop parliament from sitting failed after the national court ruled it could sit despite votes still being counted in three seats. 

At parliament, Sir Michael Somare and Peter O'Neill, who were once bitter foes, walked into the chamber together as coalition partners. 

The chief justice had to preside over the oath of office twice because around 15 MPs led by the former deputy prime minister Belden Namah arrived an hour late. 

There was applause from the public gallery as two female MPs, Loujaya Toni and Delilah Gore, rose to sign their declarations. 

Earlier, Theo Zurenuoc was sworn in as PNG speaker by the governor-general.

Mr Zurenuoc, who was nominated by the O'Neill camp, won 88 votes to 17 against Belden Namah's nominee, Francis Marus.

Mr O'Neill has been invited by the governor-general to form government after his PNC party won 27 votes in the general election.

03.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

Theo Zurenuoc is new speaker of PNG parliament

KEITH JACKSON

THE WELL-CREDENTIALLED FINSCHHAFEN POLITICIAN Theo Zurenuoc (picture), seen here in casual clobber, was this morning elected as the Speaker of the Papua New Guinea parliament.

Now representing the People’s Progress Party, Zurenuoc was first elected as an independent in 2007, winning the seat by defeating his uncle. The PPP has six members in the new parliament.

Zurenuoc has an impeccable political pedigree, his father Sir Zibang Zurenuoc KBE (1927-2008) also being a parliamentarian and onetime Deputy Speaker,

Zibang had served as a cooperative officer in the colonial public service before being elected to parliament in 1977 as MP for Finschhafen, serving as Minister for Community and Family Services.

When Peter O'Neill became prime minister in August last year, he appointed Zurenuoc as his Minister for Education.

One of the O'Neill government's first announcements was that it would commit funds to providing free primary education to all children in the country, and subsidised secondary education.

At the time Zurenuoc stated that all classes should be in English in primary schools, with classes in indigenous languages abolished, and that outcome-based education should be abandoned, since many teachers considered it to be "suppressive, irrelevant, outdated and not working".

In 2009 Zurenuoc said he supported reserved seats for women in parliament and has consistently held a progressive and nation-building view of his position ion national politics.

He replaces the controversial Jeffrey Nape, defeated at this election, who never seemed to be able to raise the role of Speaker above the hurly burly of party politics.

03.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

AIDS councillors urged to strengthen trends

By Joseph Morokana

Poor reporting channels on HIV/AIDS data and the lack of proper testing facilities have been highlighted as some of the contributing factors that need to be strengthened to effectively monitor the trend of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Bougainville.

About 23 Diocesan HIV/AIDS counsellors from the various agency facilities met with the National Catholic AIDS Council (NCAC) Coordinator, Ms Justine McMahon and the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) co-ordinator, Sr Arnolda Kavanamur and the monitoring at a one-day meeting at the Bougainville Diocese AIDs office at the Hahela Parish on Tuesday.

The NCAC co-ordinator, Ms Justine McMahon met with her officers to try and work out what should be done regarding the HIV/AIDS program and how they could boost the current state of progress in the region.

“In terms of financial support - It’s our part to help you succeed with your tasks – but then you should give us a good report back.” Ms McMahon said. 

National Catholic AIDS Council Report in 2012 had shown that - agency facilities have been undertaking Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT) tests more with only a very limited tests being done on the HIV/AIDS entry points in Antenatal, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STIs) and Tuberculosis(TB).

“Other tests in the main HIV/AIDS entry points - Antenatal, STIs, and TB need to be conducted also. Your reports show that only more VCT have been done.” Sr Anorlda, The NCAC statistics in the first and second quarter of 2012 had shown that, VCT testings alone had accounted for almost 88% of all related HIV/AIDS Tests coverage in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Sr Arnolda also told the counsellors that they should use the current two HIV/AIDS confirmatory facilities –Our Lady of Mercy VCT in Arawa and the Mary Mother of Hope at Hahela Parish in Buka if they needed to get their clients for confirmatory HIV/AIDS tests.

“There are also factors that determine quality tests – and one is having proper facilities that are conducive to effective HIV testings.” Sr Arnolda said. 

The HIV/AIDS data from the Bougainville Diocese VCT centre has indicated that only five Integrated Health Facilities have been conducting HIV/AIDS testings out of the total of 17 centres. 

Those were Manetai — 22 antenatal tests, Sovele — 2 antenatal tests, Morotona — 30 antenatal and 8 STIs, Tinputz — 36 antenatal tests and Teoroki — 109 antenatal tests.

“A lot of the diocese counsellors have vowed to start vital tests on the HIV/AIDS entry points once they get back to their respective facilities – our meeting with Ms McMahon and Sr Arnoldaon the HIV/AIDS Issues in ARoB has been both timely and worthwhile.” Co-ordinator of the Bougainville Diocese AIDs Centre, Stella Morokana said. The statistics of People infected with the AIDS Virus from the 2011 figures given by the Autonomous Bougainville AIDS Council (ABAC) has indicated about 94 cases and an estimated average of 13 new AIDS Cases in a year.

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) according to the NCACs’ 2011 Report had shown a total of 4000 plus HIV/AIDS testing in all the different entry points with Gulf Province having the lowest of just 600 tests. 

03.08.2012

Source: ABC Radio Australia Network News

O'Neill to be formally elected PNG PM 

03.08.2012

Source: ABC Radio Australia News

Last-minute challenge as PNG parliament to sit

A court in Papua New Guinea is due to decide whether to prevent the country's parliament from convening to elect a prime minister.

Peter O'Neill (centre) toasts his election victory at Government House in Port Moresby earlier this week.

Parliament is due to sit for the first time after the general election, so MPs can elect a prime minister.

But two politicians have asked the National Court to prevent the sitting because votes are still being the counted in three seats.

Their lawyer argued it would be undemocratic for parliament to sit without every MP present.

Lawyers for the state and for Peter O'Neill said the constitution only requires a majority of seats to be declared before parliament is convened.

Judge Colin Makail is due to hand down its decision just 90 minutes before parliament is scheduled to start.

O'Neill confident

Peter O'Neill and around 80 newly-elected MPs have arrived back in Port Moresby, after spending most of the week in Alotau, on the country's eastern tip, shoring up support ahead of the vote.

Mr O'Neill has been invited by the governor-general to form government after his PNC party won 27 votes in the general election.

He expects to be returned as prime minister after forming a coalition with several parties, including that of his former nemesis Sir Michael Somare, and some independent MPs.

He says it's unfortunate not all MPs can be present for today's vote.

"Unfortunately that is the case, but you must realise that we've been having these elections for the past three months," he said.

"We started in April, now we're in August. It's unfair to the seven million people that we drag this issue out forever."

Political challenge

Among those launching the challenge is Sam Basil, deputy party leader of former deputy prime minister Belden Namah's PNG Party.

Despite joining forces to throw Sir Michael Somare out of prime minister's office a year ago, relations between Mr Namah and Peter O'Neill have soured.

Mr Namah is urging MPs to desert Peter O'Neill's camp and join his push to form government.

The National Capital District, which takes in Port Moresby and its surrounds, is one of the three seats in which counting is continuing.

The incumbent Governor, Powes Parkop, is in the lead and says it will be a shame if PNG's capital is not represented in Parliament.

"I'm disappointed, but I can't help it now...the process has to go ahead," he said.

Rumours rubbished

Meanwhile, the PNG Defence Force Commander has taken the unusual step of holding a press-conference to dispel a rumour about a military coup was going to take place on Friday.

Brigadier General Francis Agwi says the rumour, sent around by text message and email, is rubbish. "This is not true," he said. "Whoever has started this email has tarnished the good name of the PNGDF."

02.08.2012

Source: ESBC Opinion

MP Ridiculous!

Namah's latest absurdity:

Now Belden versus Ian !

Why does former Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah always want to play the role of PNG's greatest fool ? Is he mentally troubled?

02.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

Belden Namah wants Australia to recall Ian Kemish

by KEITH JACKSON

YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT Belden Namah might have enough challenges trying to cobble together a viable representation in parliament, but now he’s decided to prosecute a war of words against Ian Kemish, Australia’s high commissioner in Papua New Guinea.

Today he stated that the popular diplomat should be recalled. The trigger? Yesterday the high commissioner attended a ceremony where the governor-general invited Peter O'Neill to form the next government.

According to Namah, Kemish violated PNG's sovereignty by attending the event.

"Kemish's presence is a breach of protocol," Namah said. "I call on the Australian foreign minister to apologise and to discipline the high commissioner.

"He should be recalled immediately, because he interfered with PNG's sovereignty by deliberately trying to influence the election and the process of parliament electing the prime minister."

The Australian High Commission said the attendance of Kemish and his deputy, Margaret Adamson, followed assurances from government house and the PNG electoral commission.

Mr Namah's supporters launched legal action today to stop parliament sitting tomorrow morning, when it is expected Mr O'Neill will be elected prime minister by about 75 of the 106 MPs whose seats have been decided so far.

The other five MPs won't be able to participate because the count is not concluded in their electorates.

Lawyers for Namah's party deputy, Sam Basil, say that's reason enough to stop the session.

A judgment is expected at 8.30 in the morning.

02.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Momis clarifies mining company

By PETERSON TSERAHA

AUTONOMOUS Bougainville Government (AGB) President John Momis has expressed concerns about misleading statements made about Bougainville mining policy by Canadian company Morumbi Resources Incorporation (MRI).

“The motion was not adopted by the house, instead ABG ministers emphasised that only the ABG can develop mining policy.

The ABG has not moved to start mining exploration and a legal moratorium on mining exploration introduced in 1971, at Bougainville’s request has not been lifted.” He said.

“When the ABG does develop its own policy it is unlikely to allow a landowner company to decide who can explore or develop resources and such activities involve many blocks owned by numerous clan groups and they affect adjacent blocks, and those down river or in areas where roads and powerlines must pass,” President Momis said.

He said only the ABG will be able to take account of many interests involved, and so will be the authority to issue licences and in doing so it will take account of rights of customary owners.

According to President Momis (MRI) were making incorrect statements in Toronto about development of Mining Policy on Bougainville and hoped that potential investors are not being misled by such statements.

In an article in Post-Courier dated 11, July 2012 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MRI Lindsay Semple claimed that the ABG had taken motives to introduce Bougainville Mining policy to start mining exploration on Bougainville.

In a statement issued in Toronto dated July 10 2012, claimed unanimous support was given to a motion introduced into the ABG House of Representatives on June 7, 2012 accompanied by a “Draft Mining Policy” calling on ABG to make laws recognising landowner rights to choose companies to explore and develop mineral resources under their land.

Find out more about backdoor players like Morumbi Resources Inc. and Lindsay Semple !

02.08.2012

Source: Radio New Zealand International

Convening of PNG parliament before all seats declared is unconstitutional, says Namah

The leader of the PNG Party, Belden Namah (picture), has launched a legal bid to restrain Papua New Guinea’s parliament from convening tomorrow to elect a Prime Minister.

Mr O’Neill appears to have the support of various political parties to lead a coalition government.

However at least three of PNG’s 111 MPs haven’t been declared yet as the deadline for the return of writs for three regional seats was extended until next Wednesday.

Mr Namah says under the constitution parliament is not supposed to sit until the complete election writs are returned.

“I don’t know why Mr O’Neill is rushing when he is boasting that he’s got the number (majority of MPs) in Alotau. he should not be feeling insecure. He should be secure and he should adhere to the constitution of our country. And the way that things have been rushed, it’s denying the population whose electorates have not yet been declared their rights to elect the Speaker and the Prime Minister, their constitutional right.”

Belden Namah

02.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

O’Neill to form government

By GORETHY KENNETH

THE inaugural meeting of the ninth national Parliament will convene at 10 am tomorrow (Friday) to elect the new Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.

This is when Prime Minister-in-waiting, Peter O’Neill, will also announce the government’s 15-member caretaker Cabinet to take charge and formally begin the process of putting the new regime in place, beginning with the appointment and announcement of the full National Executive Council.

This follows the official invitation by the Governor General Sir Michael Ogio at Government House yesterday to People’s National Congress Party to form Government.

The Governor General’s invitation followed advise from Chief Electoral Commissioner, Andrew Trawen earlier, when he returned 106 of the 111 Writs.

Under the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates, the party that wins the highest number of seats in the election is invited by the Governor General to form government.

PNC has won a total of 27, more than any other party, and his number has been boosted by his other coalition partners and is therefore entitled to be invited to form government.

General Secretary and Public Officer of the PNC Party Jonathan Oata received the official instrument from the Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio at Government House before party leader Mr O’Neill and his coalition party leaders.

Present to witness this important occasion were Mr O’Neill’s party executives and coalition party leaders: Don Polye, Triumph Heritage Party; Sir Julius Chan, People’s Progress Party; Patrick Pruaitch, National Alliance Party; Anderson Agiru, People’s United Assembly Party; William Duma, United Resource Party; and Powes Parkop, Social Democratic Party.

The team flew in from Alotau yesterday afternoon and arrived in Port Moresby just after 2:30pm before proceeding to the Government House for the ceremony.

Chief Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen and Chief Secretary to Government Manasupe Zurenuoc officially returned the 106 writs to the Governor General, before official secretary to the Government House Tipo Vuatha presided over the official signing and presentation of the invitation instruments.

“I would like to thank the people of Papua New Guinea, for giving our party the People’s National Congress, the mandate to lead. I am overwhelmed by the support the people have lent us across the length and breadth of the country during the elections,” Mr O’Neill said.

“The invitation by the Head of State today is an answer to your call, and I humbly accept it,” Mr O’Neill said. The PNC party campaigned strongly on platforms and policies that have guided the government I led in the last 10 months,” he said.

“There are simple policies that seek to address the core of our society’s problems. They are achievable policies that have been fully endorsed by our people and will continue. These policies will work alongside those of our coalition group that we have now,” Mr O’Neill said.

“The election has gone on for a long time, but it is over now. The people have spoken, and we have a duty to deliver the government. I want to assure you all that your government is now in place,” he said.

Regarding concerns raised in the media by various individuals, including Bulolo MP Sam Basil, about the government being formed while some declarations were yet to be made, Mr O’Neill said:

“I am advised that section 81 (3) of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections allows the Electoral Commissioner to receive those writs later than the date set for the return of writ.”

O’Neill flew out of Port Moresby again yesterday afternoon to join his camp in Alotau.

02.08.2012

Source: Post-Courier

Alotau campers shift to Port Moresby for election

ABOUT 80 member elects from the Alotau camp arrive in Port Moresby today to prepare for the election of the prime minister when Parliament sits tomorrow.

People’s National Congress Party Leader Peter O’Neill will travel to Port Moresby today with all the coalition partners – the National Alliance, THE Party, People’s Progress Party, People’s Untied Assembly, Social Democratic Movement, PNG Country Party, People’s Democratic Movement, United Resource Party, United Party and independents.

This is after Chief Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen returned only 106 of the total 111 Writs to Governor General Sir Michael Ogio in Port Moresby yesterday.

This also follows the Governor General Sir Michael Ogio’s invitation to Peter O’Neil’s People’s National Congress Party to form government in the ninth Parliament.

The entire team is expected to travel in today ahead of the first session of the ninth National Parliament tomorrow.

The first order of the day tomorrow will be the swearing-in of new MPs followed by the election of the Speaker and the Prime Minister.

The sitting of Parliament comes despite the fact that five electorates will miss out on this most important constitutional process.

01.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Police report

By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Police are happy that the election on bougainville was trouble free.

PPC for Bougainville Police, Inspector Cletus Tsien made these remarks at the declaration ceremony on Monday.

He said that before the election tgere has been rumors that some people would disturb the election on Bougainville.

He said that despite these, police was able to cover all polling booths throughout the entire region

PPC TSIEN said that law and order was everybodys business and he thanked all Bougainvilleans for maintaining peace and good order during the election period.

01.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

BOUGAINVILLE MEMBER

By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville has a new Regional member.

He is the former Director for the University of PNG's Bougainville campus and the former commissioner for South Bougainville region under the new ABG adminustrative structure.

MR LERA polled 26,199 votes after the 11th elimination early Monday morning at the HUTJENA Secondary school counting centre.

The former BRA General now businessman, Ishmael Toroama came second with 21,208 votes.

MR.LERA reached the absolute majority figure after the sitting member, FIDELIS SEMOSO was excluded and his 15,699 votes dustributed between the last two remaining candidates.

MR LERA was declared by the Returning Officer, REITAMA TARAVARU at ten am on Monday 30 th July,2012.

01.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SECOND CHANCE

By Aloysius Laukai

Another opportunity for Bougainville students has opened on Bougainville.

Grades Ten and twelve school leavers can now further their studies through the University of Technology's Department of Distance Learning(DODL) which now has agencies throughout Papua New Guinea.

This was revealed by the deputy principle (academic) of Hutjena Secondary School and DODL cordinator, WAMSIE SAI on New Dawn Fm's talk back program this week.

MR SAI said that first semester had ended amd registration on for semester two applications.

He said similar to the UPNG Program, tyey are also offering courses at K200 per subject and another K100 for facility fees.

He said that classes are held for two hours per subject every Saturday morning.

The cordinator further explained that Grade ten leavers can complete their programs within two years whilst Grade 12 leavers can just upgrade within a year and apply to colleges or universities.

More information can be obtained by contacting MR WAMSIE SAI at the Hutjena Secondary School.

01.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Lera leaves to Milne bay

By Aloysius Laukai

The new Regional member for Bougainville,yesterday left Bougainville on a chartere planed to team up with two other Bougainville members who are in the Milne Bay camp.

They are the member for South Bougainville, STEVEN PIRIKA and JIMMY MIRINGTORO the member for Central Bougainville.

The re-elected member for NORTH BOUGAINVILLE LOUTA ATOI has joined BELDEN NAMAH's team in Rabaul.

Parliament elects the speaker and Prime minister this Friday.

01.08.2012

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

MOMIS ON PUBLIC SERVICE POWERS

BY Tapo Tovilu

ABG PRESIDENT,DR. JOHN MOMIS has commended the Department of personal Management and the Bougainville administration for working on the final drawdown of public service powers to the Bougainville admonistration.

DR.MOMIS made these remarks at the handing down of instruments for the drawdown by the Secretary for DPM, JOHN KALI yesterday.

Chief Momis said that Bougainville must have a public service that is unique from the others.

He said not only fullfillment, it must be effective in carrying out their roles and resonsibility.

The instruments were delivered to the chief afministrator, Lawrence Disin.

01.08.2011

Source: adio New Dawn on Bougainville

LERA WANTS TO SEE RESULTS

LERA EYES JANUARY

By Aloysius Laukai

The newly elected Regional member for Bougainville, JOE LERA has vowed to change some things on Bougainville by January 2013.

He made this commitment during his inauguration speech as the new member for Bougainville.

MR LERA said that he would like to review processes of service delivery to the people of Bougainville.

He reiterated his earlier plan to kove (?) Bougainville into the next level.

Whilst thanking the people for placing mandate in him, he also thanked the outgoing member for his contribution to Bougainville over the last five years.

He also promised to seek some advice from the former member on certain issues affecting the region.

01.08.2011

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

SEMOSO ACCEPTS RESULTS

By Aloysius Laukai

The outgoing Regional member for Bougainville, FIDELIS SEMOSO has accepted the wish of the people of Bougainville.MR SEMOSO in a brief ceremony to declare the new Regional member elect, JOE LERA  thanked the people for having faith in him in the last five years.

MR SEMOSO (picture) also called on the new member to work closely with the ABG To see autonomy work on Bougainville.

HE said the people would like to see law and order issues addressed quickly.

MR SEMOSO said that he tried to shortcut things to fast track development im the region and got his fingers burnt.

He wished Mr Lera good luck in the next five years in parliament.

01.08.2011

Source: Radio New Dawn on Bougainville

Reitama happy

By Aloysius Laukai

Bougainville Electoral manager, Reitama Taravaru tha the election process on Bougainville was gemially over.

He made these comments at a declaration ceremony in Hutjena on monday.

He said that although the process was slow and painful it was able to iron differences with candidates,scrutineers and the people of Bougainville.

He also thanked the ABG PRESIDENT and the Bougainville Police service for ensuring that the election process was done without trouble.

The election manager aldo thanked all polling officials, counting officials and the media for working tirelessly in the last three weeks.

01.08.2011

Source: Radio New Zealand International

O’Neill invited to form PNG government

Peter O’Neill has been invited by Papua New Guinea’s Governor General Sir Michael Ogio to form the next government.

The leader of the People’s National Congress, the party which has emerged from the general election with the most MPs, Mr O’Neill has announced he has the support of various other political parties to lead a coalition government.

The coalition is understood to include as many as 80 out of PNG’s 111 parliamentarians.

Mr O’Neill is expected to be elected on the floor of parliament on Friday.

His former deputy, Belden Namah has taken out newspaper ads offering the job of prime minister if MPs form government with his PNG party.

01.08.2012

Source: Papua New Guibea Mine Watch / Mekamui | Mekamui News

Reopening Panguna mine

It’s a painful experience to have felt and sad to hear and see leaders talk about reopening the closed Panguna mine. What do the leaders want, do they care for the people and their land or they care for the money which will destroy land and ruin people’s lives. We the people of Arawa had faced all kinds of social problems and have been the victims of the mine, brought squatters so we think it’s enough of the mine issue.

The ABG leaders instead of finding other venues to raise money they only talk about reopening the mine. Is this the only way for Bougainville to go forward? For the last 25 years since the mine was closed we the grassroots earn money from cocoa, copra and other commodities. Its very funny though that some of those leaders they are making big money from cocoa plantation that they own but yet they talk about reopening the mine. What on Mekamui went wrong? Or do they want more money??? More money, which means more destruction in the name of development.

In June I went up to Panguna, when standing outside of Pirurari village I saw few taro gardens on the side of the waste gravel where some soil form when the mine stopped. I asekd Michael the man from Pirurari, if mining starts will you plant taro there again? He told me, we the village people don’t want the mine reopen its only the leaders who are talking about it.

Reopening Panguna mine is hazardous so please leaders talk about Agriculture, Tourism, Fishing, etc. If you want to talk about BCL talk funding reconciliations, schools and medical centres because BCL had already got more out of our motherland and left it with a big scar.

01.08.2012

Source: PNG Attitude

O’Neill well on top; but instability may be lurking

KEITH JACKSON

THE NINTH PAPUA NEW GUINEA PARLIAMENT will have its first sitting on Friday even though it is likely a number of seats will still not be determined and some electorates will not be represented in the vote for prime minister.

Despite that anomaly, the vote seems to be a foregone conclusion with Peter O’Neill’s coalition group – with a claimed 68 of the 111 seats in parliament – ensconced in Alotau this past week as it organises to transform itself into the next government.

Peter O'Neill's coalition

Peter O'Neill says:

Our group here is content. We have come together as mature leaders with one goal and that is to deliver services to our people back in our electorates.

[Belden] Namah should stop bickering and start planning for what he will do for his own people in Vanimo Green.

We are not wasting our time worrying about numbers to form government. We have gone past that stage. We are now well into integrating the coalition member parties’ policies to synchronise with existing government policies.

We have a country to run. We have responsible leaders in our camp who range from mature, seasoned politicians with vast experience to young, energetic and vibrant leaders who are hungry for change.

O’Neill also issued a challenge to Namah to stop wasting time playing petty politics.

If Namah thinks he has the numbers, I urge him and his group to come to parliament to prove himself. Stop trying desperately to poach members who have already set their path for what they believe is in the best interest of this country.

Spoken like a man who knows he’s in control.

So how has this control been achieved – and how is it being exercised.

Well, the election has led to the formation of three political groupings – or ‘camps’ as they are known: O’Neill’s at Alotau, Namah’s at Rapopo near Kokopo, and John Kerenga Gul’s Camp 3, or the ‘eastern bloc’, at Goroka for the residue.

In rough figures, O’Neill probably has 65, Namah maybe 20, Camp 3, who knows, perhaps 10 at the most – which leaves around 15 members still looking or unaligned and striking out on their own.

One of these is the respected Gary Juffa:

I am NOT part of the Eastern Block. I am here to support my regional candidate Sam Sii. I am here with governor elect for Morobe, Hon. Kelly Naru, who is a friend by the way and we embrace certain values and principals [sic] much of which the members here do as well.

We are also collectively concerned about certain national issues such as the granting of citizenship to Djoko Tjandra and in my specific case the Naima Rice Monopoly Project and the Seabed Mining Project and such other issues which we here have spoken about and are concerned about.

I am NOT forming a group as an alternative government and I am not lobbying for the PM's job I am just speaking to like minded elected leaders and discussing how best to approach our common concerns and how best we can represent our people in our electorates, our province and our country.

Usually in politics, when you start defining yourself by what you’re not, it suggests that you're well and truly on the back foot. I get the impression that this is not Juffa's normal or preferred stance, so a statement like that suggests that the present political dynamic has rattled him just a little.                                  

As for Namah, struggling for numbers in the Gazelle, former Attorney-General and re-elected member for Rabaul, Dr Allan Marat, said the Rapopo camp opted to side with the former deputy prime minister because of his style of leadership.

As for Namah himself, he says "the Namah camp in Kokopo does not necessarily require the numbers to be in government, but they will only offer the best leadership system to those in government".

Respected commentator Emmanuel Narokobi has written:

It's a tough decision choosing your camp and any winning candidate wants to get into parliament with the government because it is the only way to ensure that you get funds for development in your electorate….

I personally would like nothing better than to see a totally new government come into power at the end of this week, but the numbers are stacked against them [those of independent mien] so far.

Although it will be extremely difficult for Camp 3 and Camp Kokopo to make inroads at this stage, it is not totally impossible, but the clock is ticking and time is running out.

So it does seem that O’Neill's superior organisation, political agility and skill at consensus building has managed to get the game well under control.

But Namah remains a formidable opponent, and those new, highly educated and independently-minded members – irrespective of what camp they’re in – promise to offer much more to PNG than the old, self-aggrandising, 'what’s in it for me' style of politics.

They do seem to offer hope for a nation-building rather than a wealth-acquiring mood. Let’s hope so, anyway.

Footnote: The Electoral Commission is anticipating that very soon the election petition cases will start pouring in. The Commission's lawyers say they anticipate cases from West Sepik, Imbonggu, Kandep, Kompiam-Ambum, Wabag and Wapenamanda. There are bound to be more. Aggrieved parties have 40 days from the date of a declaration to file their case