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!
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!
Post-Courier
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