PNG TODAY
THE Papua New Guinea Opposition has queried the motive behind prime minister Peter O’Neill allocating himself the Bougainville Affairs Ministry in light of the looming vote on the autonomous province’s referendum on independence.
Don Polye said stripping off the ministry from a Bougainvillean MP who has local knowledge about the issues is a slap in the people’s face.
Mr Polye has cautioned the Mr O’Neill to treat outstanding financial issues and the Bougainville copper mine issues with care.
“The prime minister has been undermining the [Bougainville] peace agreement with cuts in funds rightfully owed to the people,” he said.
“The scars of the Bougainville crisis are still raw and care should be given to the region to prepare them well in the lead up to the referendum.”
He described the minor reshuffle at the top of the PNG government as “self-serving and not in the best interest of the country.
“I see that the reshuffle by the prime minister is to achieve political expediency so it is not morally justifiable.
“The reshuffle was done at the time when [Bougainville] president John Momis is suing the government over cuts in funds and the looming referendum vote,” Mr Polye said.
He called on Mr O’Neill to reinstate the member for South Bougainville, Peter Kammaor, or appoint another MP from Bougainville as Minister for Bougainville Affairs.
“They are fighting for autonomy so it is better to give the ministry back to the Bougainvilleans as they best know their issues more than the prime minister,” he said.