Second Joint Autonomy Review
While Bougainville has a modern system of laws and effective model of representative government and democracy, corruption is still rampant within the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
ABG President Chief Dr John Momis made this statement in reference to the Second Joint Autonomy Review findings to the Bougainville House of Representatives today.
“The report demonstrates that the ABG has been chronically underfunded over the life of the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and where we have received precious funds, these have not been managed well,” President Momis said.
He added that the report found that the Government and the Public Service consistently fail to adhere to public finance management legislation and corruption has at times taken hold.
“This is why I continue to speak so forcefully on the need to ensure that our leaders are held to account and I am heartened by advice that the fraud squad will soon be deployed to Bougainville to investigate allegations of fraud. Nobody is above the law. Everyone must be held to account,” Momis said.
The report notes very slow progress in advancing the drawdown of powers which is again due to poor funding, limited capacity and a lack of commitment and engagement at the National Government level.
“My question is, how can we harness the benefits of autonomy when we can’t exercise the powers and functions that autonomy provides? All we do is maintain a system of dependency, a system that relies on a dysfunctional national government bureaucracy and where policy paralysis prevails it is up to both governments to do more,” Momis said.
The reports also note that we must embrace the institutions that are needed to support good governance.
This requires a robust audit capability, investigative mechanisms, a well-funded police force and effective revenue raising capacity.
The Review notes the significant failure of government departments in addressing compliance issues and administering our laws.
“We must harness those legal powers that are available to us. We have excellent laws, but we fail to administer them,” Momis said.
The Bougainville Peace Agreement is often hailed as a world’s best practice document, but implementation has been poor. These are issues that must also be addressed – jointly – with the national government,” Momis added.
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