Masono: Government focused on referendum
The Acting President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and Minister for Mining, Hon. Raymond Masono, has announced that there will be no further discussions on the proposed mining amendment until after the referendum.
In a statement released from the Acting President’s office this week, Mr. Masono stated that based on the recommendations of the Parliamentary Legislative Committee, all discussions about the future of mining in Bougainville will be put on hold till after the referendum.
“Today our focus as a government is to unite all Bougainvilleans, promote and maintain peace to create a conducive environment for the referendum to be held to determine our future political status,” he said.
While the government’s focus is on preparing Bougainville for the referendum later this year, the Mining Minister says his department will be conducting awareness programs to educate Bougainvilleans about the proposed mining amendments and its benefits.
“The ABG Executive Government and my department stand ready to explain the intention of the mining amendment to give comfort to all Bougainvilleans that this amendment is for resource owners and Bougainvilleans to maintain full ownership of their mineral resources and to retain full control and management of these resources and nothing more.”
The Department will also be supporting a traditional social mapping called “Tangurang” in the local Nasioi culture to help identify the true landowners of the Panguna pit through the traditional clan structure.
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