Some economic issues and services are negatively affecting the people on a daily basis.

This was according to the ABG Minister for Economic Development; Hon. Robert Chika Tulsa MHR who said that those key issues were poor banking, shortage of cash, Digicel mobile services and low commodities prices.

Hon. Robert Chika Tulsa has responded to those issues in a press statement;

Mr Tulsa’s respond to Poor banking was: “I wish to thank BSP as the only bank that has excellently been serving the Bougainville people for the last years; during the crisis and at this post conflict period. However, due to increasing business activities, there is a need to invite another bank to Bougainville to ease the commercial banking overload or maybe it is about time for us Bougainville citizens to those stories establish our own citizens bank; nothing is impossible with people’s power in play.”

He said that the problem of cash shortage has gone from bad to worse.

‘This problem has gone from bad to worse. I will immediately address this issue with BSP management and the sate regulatory bodies and get compliance reports from them on whether or not businesses are banking their daily takings or operating cash transaction to avoid paying tax. As Minister, I am calling on businesses to operate within the Laws and avoid marginalizing our people who are their good customers and who have exchanged their hard-earned money for goods and services. I am cautioning you now; defaulters will face me and the law”

Hon. Tulsa wants a better deal: “The telecommunications company has enjoyed the monopoly in Bougainville for over years and we are at their mercy without any real tangible benefit to the landowners hosting its communications towers and ABG. Its quality of service has deteriorated fast and their customer usage fee has as well increased fast. Therefore, the government must now invite and partner a competitor or otherwise engage with the digicel towers landowners for a better deal for our mutual benefit and for the sake of quality service and competitive pricing.”

Hon. Tulsa wants local producers to benefit: “Cash crops like copra, cocoa, marine resources and other renewable natural resources have been and remain to be the core business of our Bougainville citizens in their life time. However, our hardworking grassroots producers have not really benefited from the export of their produce. There fore, as Minister I will consult with all stakeholders to assist our producers to fully benefit as product owners and also assist to engage them in downstream processing.”

Any other issues will be addressed within our government system in collaboration with our stakeholders, he said.

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