ANTHONY KAYBING
IN its first 100 days in office, the Third House of Representatives of the Autonomous Bougainville Government has moved to implement a number of important initiatives.
These have been designed to strengthen public service machinery to deliver goods and services to the people and prepare the autonomous region for its referendum on independence.
Bougainville’s president, Grand Chief Dr John Momis, said the Department of the President and the Bougainville Executive Council have the important responsibility to coordinate the formulation of government policies.
“My department is responsible for developing appropriated legislative framework and implementing government policies to ensure the smooth delivery of goods and services to the people,” Dr Momis said.
The government has already made permanent appointments of top public servants to all departments except four where there was a lack of suitable candidates.
Dr Momis said the Bougainville Peace Agreement is the overarching roadmap that will guide Bougainville’s political and development policies.
He also announced a date for the next Joint Supervisory Board meeting at which the PNG and Bougainville governments negotiate critical policy issues.
Dr Momis said discussion on Bougainville’s independence referendum will be the main issue of this month’s JSB.
Other issues are the slow pace of the drawdown of government powers to Bougainville, tax revenue collections and high impact development projects in Bougainville.
The first 100 days of the new government give cause for optimism as it drives to foster better and creative development measures as Bougainville prepares for the referendum on its political future.
