jsb meeting

MP explains absence



http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20100830/mohome.htm



By GORETHY KENNETH

BOUGAINVILLLE Affairs Min-ister Fidelis Semoso arrived in Bougainville over the weekend with good news and pledging total support to the Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis.
In response to President Momis outburst on the cancellation of the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting last week and blaming Mr Semoso for not having the courtesy to advise the ABG team who were left wondering, an irate Semoso said it was not his fault.
He said that the JSB meeting to be held between the National Government and the ABG was cancelled because the ABG technical team were not ready with the agendas and other documentations. He said that he had advised the acting administrator Patrick Koles and National Co-ordinating Office of Bougainville Affairs director Ellison ToWalom.
Mr Momis blasted Mr Semoso for not having the courtesy to advise him and his Cabinet members that the special meeting between the ABG and the National Government was cancelled. Mr Momis was also disappointed that he was told the meeting would be in the afternoon last week, but no-one, even the Bougainville Affairs office in Port Moresby, had the courtesy to advise them before leaving for Port Moresby. President Momis was advised later that Mr Semoso was in Kokopo. I come home with a good heart. And I come home with nothing except support for President Momis because I openly campaigned for the people of Bougainville to vote for Momis and I financed his campaigns, Semoso said.
I am now the Minister for Bougainville Affairs, whether they like it or not, but I dont have time to play petty politics. Bougainville does not have time to play politics. We need all the time in the world to develop and move Bougainville forward. We dont have time anymore. We must strictly comply with and we must strictly adhere to the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
Mr Semoso also announced that the ABG would get its controversial K15 million in Novembers Supplementary Budget. And if Bougainville is lucky, an extra K15 million may be granted, as agreed in principle by key National Government ministers. This is the reason why Mr Semoso got off in Kokopo, East New Britain to secure the funding by speaking direct with Planning Minister Paul Tiensten and State and Enterprise Minister Arthur Somare who were there adding to the alleged delay and cancellation of the special JSB meeting which has now been put forward to this Thursday. Mr Semoso announced at the press conference at the Buka airport on Saturday that he would be in Port Moresby today.