BOUGAINVILLE crisis-related claims have amounted to over K3 billion. This shocking revelation was recently made by the Minister for Finance, Treasury and Planning in the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Albert Punghau. Mr Punghau said this K3.6 billion worth of claims was raised by those in North Bougainville with only a few from Central and South Bougainville respectively. He however said this amount could either double or triple if many in Central and South as well as others in North Bougainville start sending in their crisis-related claims. Most of these claims stem from damages done to properties including houses, loss of businesses and other valuables that were destroyed during the decade long civil war. Mr Punghau said though these claims were genuine, the ABG was not able to make these payments as its internal revenue earnings is just around K9 million per annum. He said that is why it was important that the Panguna mine is reopened because the “surplus” revenue earned could be used to offset such hefty claims. ABG is predicting that it’s revenue earnings for this year is expected to increase to about K17m, however this is still not enough to address some of these pressing issues like this billion kina worth of claims.
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