abg to meet govt

290612ABG TO MEET GOVT
By Aloysius Laukai

ABG President Chief John Momis intends to meet with the National Government after the elections, to consider establishing a small implementing unit at Waigani to execute the co-operative arrangements between the two governments.
This, he added, would include the setting up of a corresponding unit within the ABG Division of Autonomy or the Chief Administrator’s Office to ensure that matters relating to Autonomy and the Transfer of Functions and Powers do not become enmeshed in the routine bureaucracy.
The President urged that because the process of Autonomy is new to both governments, it is vital that each be mindful to respect all Bougainville Peace Agreement commitments.
“Autonomy is not just a phrase in our daily use. Its core objective is the transfer, of real powers and functions from the Government of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville,” said chief Momis.


290612 ABG monitors Elections
By Aloysius Laukai
4
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is closely monitoring the National Election and expects that one of the priorities of the new government formed would be to initiate the long overdue meeting of parties to the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB).
The parties to the JSB comprise members of the Autonomous Bougainville Government led by President John Momis and members of the Papua New Guinea government led by the elected new Prime Minister.
The ABG is concerned at the oversight shown by the last PNG government to upholding its contractual obligation to implement the process of Autonomy that involved ensuring an efficient progress on the draw down of powers and functions to the ABG.
Autonomous Region of Bougainville President,John Momis said although much progress had been made in bringing powers and functions to Bougainville, there are constraints such as the slow transfer of the powers and functions.
“Among the causes are issues relating to capacity, disinterest on the part of the National Government and some legal and institutional restraints relating to absorptive capacity in Bougainville.
Given this level of development, I think it imperative that both the ABG and the National Government should consider new approaches to the transfer issues”, said Momis.
He suggested that both parties refocus their efforts on four key strategies as follows.
• Capacity and internal and external co-operation and coordination issues,
• New Key Priorities {Economic Issues, Mining and other economic powers} that will lead to fiscal self-reliance.
• Establishment of the Institutions of Government in Bougainville as a pre-condition for the Referendum
• Security Issues
The President said in order to achieve these objectives he had directed his administration to focus on strengthening the Division of Autonomy through the provisions of additional resources including legal expertize.
Ends