CABINET DIRECTS OFFICIALS TO ADVISE ON AUTONOMOUS BOUGAINVILLE GOVERNMENT’S REQUEST FOR EARLY TRANSFER OF MINING, OIL AND GAS
For Release: Wednesday, 17 January 2007
Cabinet has directed officials to prepare an urgent report on the implications of the request from the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) for the early transfer of responsibility for the functions of mining, oil and gas to the ABG.
The decision follows a briefing by the Minister for Health and Bougainville Affairs and Minister assisting the Prime Minister on HIV / AIDS, Hon. Sir Peter Barter, on receipt of the ABG’s request.
Speaking after the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, said ‘Last year, the Government directed the Central Agencies Co-ordination Committee to set up a core working-group of senior officials to advise the Government on issues raised by requests by the ABG for the transfer of functions and powers.
‘The core working-group has already begun identifying and considering the issues raised by this particular request.
‘The report it provides will help Cabinet to decide how to respond to the request from the ABG.’
The Prime Minister said, ‘The Bougainville Peace Agreement provides for the phased transfer of responsibility for a long list of important functions and powers from the National Government to the ABG.
‘The legal procedures are set out in the National Constitution, Part XIV and the Organic Law on Peace-Building in Bougainville, which give the Agreement legal effect.
‘They state that the ABG will consider relevant needs, resources and capacity before making any request.
‘The National Government and the ABG then have twelve months to meet and develop an agreed plan to ensure that the resources and capacity required for the proper exercise of a function or power are in place when a transfer occurs.
‘The detailed political and administrative steps to be followed in giving effect to these laws were discussed and agreed when National Government Ministers and ABG leaders met in the Joint Supervisory Body in November last year.’
The Prime Minister said, ‘The request for the early transfer of responsibility for mining, oil and gas raises many potentially important and sensitive land and environmental issues.
‘Social, political, and security issues are clearly relevant too.
‘The roadblocks which prevent freedom of movement in the self-styled ‘No-Go Zone’ around Panguna make it difficult to see how services can be restored, infrastructure can be repaired or developed, and mining in the area can resume, unless and until the commitment to peace and implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement becomes Bougainville- wide. This will, obviously, require reconciliation between individuals, groups and communities both inside and linked to those in the area, respect for the rule of law and the administration of justice, and acceptance of the legitimate authority of the ABG.
‘These are among the issues which the core working-group can be expected to consider, and provide expert advice.
‘The officials’ report will help Cabinet decide the basis on which the National Government will then engage with the ABG to address the issues raised by the ABG’s request for the early transfer of mining, oil and gas functions and powers.
‘It will allow officials of relevant National Government departments and agencies and Bougainville officials to come up with an agreed schedule of work.’
The Prime Minister, ‘As the Government has repeatedly said, we will honour the letter and spirit of the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the laws giving the Agreement legal effect.
‘The discussion in Cabinet and the decision made yesterday give this commitment practical effect.’
M T SOMARE GCMG CH K St J Prime Minister
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