Momis on AROB National MPs
By Anthony Kaybing
The four national MP’s of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville must present a unified front in parliament to ensure the autonomous arrangements on Bougainville are implemented through the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
ABG President Chief Dr John Momis made this remark following the dismal failure of Bougainvillean MP’s in the previous government to advocate the full implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
The President was particularly frustrated by the Regional Member, Joe Lera’s statement in Alotau last week that the ABG had neglected to consult with Mr Lera on matters pertaining to Bougainville when he was Minister for Bougainville Affairs.
“As the Minister for Bougainville affairs Mr. Lera at that time should have been proactively pursuing the Bougainville agenda on behalf of the people and not maintain the neutral stand that he opted for,” President Momis remarked.
The President said that the National Coordination Office for Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA), which comes under the Bougainville Affairs ministry, is the avenue where the national MP’s should be raising the issues that affect the autonomous arrangement on Bougainville.
These issues include the outstanding Restoration Development Grant funds which is in excess of K1 billion, implementing the resolutions of the Joint Supervisory Body and implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
“Politicians must understand that their roles are not that of fund distributors through the PSIP and DISP, their roles are foremost lawmakers who must ensure that there is equitable distribution of services and that they create laws that govern the people in a democratised fashion,” Momis said
Momis said that the PSIP and DSIP funds have been largely used to create a dependency syndrome amongst the people instead of letting them participate meaningfully in development.
“While we recognise the importance of having development in Bougainville the national MP’s must advocate on behalf of the ABG which is the legitimate government on Bougainville; they must not shy away from standing up for our people, they must work with the ABG and ensure self-determination for our people is not compromised,” Momis said.
President Momis has stated that the referendum is fast approaching and there is a need for all the leaders at the political level to unite to ensure that this process is not jeopardized by leaders’ self-interests.
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