By Tanya Lahies

More than two hundred students from Tonu High School in Siwai District gathered together yesterday with their teachers and head master to celebrate Uinted Nations (UN) Day with the Bougainville House of Representative (BHOR), parliamentary committee.

Acting Speaker Hon Ms Francesca Semoso was with her team, namely Mr Peter Topura, First Clerk Assistance, Mr Ignatius Hamal, Director Corporate Services, Mr Farasiko Misimeke, First Secretary to the Deputy Speaker and Personal Assistant Ms Judith Gore.

They were in Tonu on Tuesday, 24 October, to conduct awareness about the Bougainville House of Representatives and the referendum.

Hon Ms Semoso said that although Bougainville is a small region with a small government, it is receiving recognition from neighbouring countries in the Melanesia and the whole world.

Ms Semoso said that countries were very keen about the parliament here in Bougainville because it was different from other countries and high powered leaders overseas wanted to learn about its structure and nature.

Although smaller than the PNG parliament, there are women representatives in BHOR, while in PNG there are none, said Semoso.

Ms Semoso said that many of her trips overseas were based on invitations to to give awareness just on the parliament here in the region.

The Bougainville House of Representative (BHOR)- parliament- has four women, three elected into parliament through the reserved seats and one, a constitutional seat.

Yesterday also marked the United Nations Day. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Representative Mr Emmanuel Kaetavara spoke on the Sustainable Development Goals of the UNDP.

A panel discussion also allowed for the community and students to ask questions about the referendum come June 15, 2019.

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