Open the Panguna Copper Mine

050115BOUGAINVILLE MUST MEET FISCAL SELF RELIANCE
BY Aloysius Laukai

The ABG President, Chief DR. JOHN MOMIS says that Bougainville needs to meet Fiscal Self Reliance with Good Governance and Weapons Disposal as condition before the referendum is held.
Speaking on NEW DAWN FM, President Momis said that he sees no other option to meet this fiscal self reliance but to open the PANGUNA COPPER MINE under the new Bougainville mining law.
He said that Weapons disposal and Good Governance can be met in time but he was more concerned at the fiscal self reliance was currently out of reach and most critics who do not want the mine to re-open are not providing the alternatives for raising these funds.
PRESIDENT MOMIS said that Agricultural commodities can be fast-tracked once funds are raised from the mine.
He said funds can be raised immediately once the approval is given and starting at reconstruction stage.
PRESIDENT MOMIS said since the end of the Bougainville conflict WORLD BANK AND AUSAID pumped in a lot of funds on Cocoa rehabilitation but the COCOA POD BORER killed these initiatives and will take time for these products to come on line.
AND with the drop in prices the help needed by Bougainville is not coming at all said President MOMIS.
Responding to comments made by DR.RUTH SPRIGGS, he said that under the new mining law Bougainville land owners are fully protected and on top of that they have the VETO power to halt any operation if they are not happy with the company or the government.
He said if critics think their option like planting and selling Tomatoes and other garden foods can make Bougainville reach economic self reliance within the short time remaining to referendum, then they should tell the government of these options instead of just criticizing the government.

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