BOUGAINVILLE leaders want national Ministers to be present in the Joint Supervisory Body meeting between the two governments today. The JSB meeting has been postponed for the ocassion, this time because ABG leaders demanded PNG Ministers to be present when the meeting begins. This is because they claim there are important issues to discuss apart from the drawdown of powers and the mining issue. The ABG administration confirmed the meeting was cancelled and scheduled for next week but could not detail the dates. Last month, the cancellation of the meeting in Port Moresby was the centre of an argument between the Bougainville Affairs Minister Fidelis Semoso and the ABG President John Momis. Mr Momis claimed Mr Semoso did not have the courtesy to advise on the cancellation, but Mr Semoso defended that the ABG were not ready with their agendas and all necessary papers needed for the meeting. This time, the ABG leaders have blamed the non attendance of National MPs. They want National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten or Treasurer Peter O?Neill or even the Deputy Prime Minister Don Polye to attend the meeting. The National Government advised they were ready, also citing they had Bougainville Affairs Minister Semoso who was also their ear, eye and mouth but assured Bougainville was important as any other pressing issues to be addressed. The Planning Office and the office of the Deputy Prime advised the ABG should communicate and work hand in hand with Minister Semoso as he was the National Government?s appointee on Bougainville matters. They assured they stand ready to attend the meeting if ABG was ready also.
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(20min delay)