THE Autonomous Bougainville Government received its 2011 establishment grant of K15m from the National Government yesterday. Minister for Bougainville Affairs Steven Pirika Kama handed the cheque to ABG President John Momis in Buka yesterday. The first K100 million “promised” to Bougainville under the K500 million package should be released in this year’s National Budget. Further, the ABG has asked for an increase in the Bougainville’s recurrent budget, an annual allocation from the National Government for next year, according to Mr Momis in an interview in Buka yesterday. Mr Kama reiterated the commitment and the partnership from the O’Neill-Namah Government to Bougainville. Meanwhile, Mr Momis thanked the National Government for honouring its commitment and releasing the K15m, although 11 months later. Mr Momis said that most of this grant would be used to repay monies diverted from other projects and continue to fund peace process and development activities in the region. “Bougainville was reduced to basic humanity and these K15 million grant was a means for us for development, implement autonomy and working towards referendum,” he said. Although the ABG needed more money to develop its region, Mr Momis assured the K100 million if released this year would be used for planned impact projects already in preparation by the ABG and its administration.
09.11.2011 Source: Post-Courier
Call to fund peace effort By Melanie Toliken
THE people of Manetai in the Eivo/Torau Constituency are calling on the Autonomous Bougainville Government to a fund peace and reconciliation project in preparation for the re-opening of the limestone mine. According to their member Melchior Dare, the Emai chiefs passed a resolution to hold high impact reconciliation for consultation and negotiations towards securing a joint venture partnership arrangement to re-open mine by early 2012. ”The necessarily process such as land mediation, dispute on the landownership title has been resolved by the Emai chiefs and now we are calling on the Autonomous Bougainville Government and its administration through the Division of Peace to immediately assist to fast track high impact peace and reconciliation among the surrounding communities of limestone area,” said Mr Dare. He said that a request had been made to the Division of Commerce and Trade through the Investment Promotion Authority to advertise the Manetai Limestone Project in the IPA website and media to attract one to two foreign investors to bid for the project. He added that by 2012 the people of Manetai and the ABG should secure a joint venture partnership to re-open the limestone mine. “The project will greatly contribute to the region by boosting its economy as well as improving social livelihoods,” said Mr Dare.
09.11.2011 Source: Post-Courier
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