News and Public Notices

Prime Minister Honorable James Marape, the National Government Ministerial Delegation and your Technical Team, it is once again a privilege to meet you for the Joint Supervisory Body Meeting.

I also acknowledge the presence of our development partners and international friends.

Prime Minister, we have just successfully concluded the third Joint Consultations yesterday with the signing of the Port Moresby Joint Statement. The joint statement reaffirms our commitment to determining Bougainville’s political settlement not before 2025 and no later than 2027. This timeline also leaves no room for complacency and emphasizes the need for all JSB matters that have been in limbo for the last sixteen years to be resolved.

Prime Minister, there are no new agendas for this JSB Meeting. The matters before us have been perennial throughout the whole lifespan of the Autonomous Bougainville Government since 2005. In the last sixteen years we have only achieved a fraction of our objectives to ensure the autonomous arrangement on Bougainville is practical through tangible development with the ABG empowered to effectively serve the interests of the people. Given the political timeframe of the Wabag Roadmap we cannot procrastinate any longer. There has to be a sense of urgency to ensure these matters are addressed.

My people’s rejection of autonomy during the referendum can be directly attributed to the slow and tedious process involved in operationalizing Bougainville’s autonomous arrangements. The people have seen firsthand the slow progress by the National Government to empower the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s socio-economic and political capacities. There are many who view this slow progress as sanctions intentionally levelled against Bougainville and often likened to the economic sanctions by the National Government during the ten year Bougainville Crisis.

Prime Minister the failure to exploit the full potential of Bougainville’s autonomy arrangements has created a scenario where Bougainville continues to remain dependent on the National Government. This dependency syndrome induced by the National Government has rendered autonomy virtually impotent on Bougainville. While this may be intentional or not it questions the commitment of the National Government to the implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

Past JSB records will show that issues such as the outstanding Restoration and Development Grant, fishing revenue and tax remittance are supposed to have been progressed well beyond their current state. However, National Government agencies continue to make it difficult for the ABG to access the support it requires. As leaders we need to work together to provide the political context to the officials to understand the spirit and intention of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

I believe our commitment to the BPA should be reciprocated in good faith by the National Government. Ministers and government agencies must make an effort to ensure the resolutions of the JSB Meetings are carried out instead of prolonging the process as we have experienced in the last sixteen years. The Joint Consultations has outlined a timeline for Bougainville’s political settlement. This means we must start putting deadlines on these unresolved JSB Matters.

We have more pressing matters to discuss in the joint consultations instead of wasting time and resources on these perennial matters that should have been resolved long ago.

Prime Minister I am pleased to inform you that after the signing of the Sharp Agreement to fast track the drawdown of powers the ABG has produced a blue print to initiate the legislative process to assume these powers.

Let me outline my views of the current JSB Agendas.

On the agenda of Implementing the Sharp Agreement,

The Sharp Agreement is designed to expedite the process of drawing down powers and functions from the National Government. Nevertheless, I do not want to see the same level of complacency that we have experienced over the years with regards implementing JSB Resolutions. Prime Minister I need your support to providing the necessary technical support to expedite the process of drawing down the remaining autonomy powers for the ABG. We must not delay this any longer.

On Fisheries

Prime Minister there is still outstanding funding from fisheries revenue that must be remitted to Bougainville. While we are negotiating this I also want see that Bougainville is given the freedom to legislate on fishing within Bougainville waters. We want to be able to issue licenses and regulate the fisheries sector within our waters.

On the K100 Million Commitment,

I will not dwell on it too much because this was your commitment to the people and government of Bougainville during the JSB in Arawa. I only request clarification on how the funds will be disbursed on Bougainville as my government has development priorities in anticipation of the funding.

On the One Line Budget

Prime Minister I acknowledge the National Government’s 2022 budget allocation for Bougainville and thank you on behalf of the people of Bougainville. With Bougainville receiving the biggest share in the 2022 Budget the onus is now on our officials to complete the implementation of the One-line budget to finance development and economic growth on Bougainville.

The Restoration and Development Grant

Prime Minister this is another perennial issue that has been argued over since the inception of the ABG. These funds are constitutionally guaranteed to the ABG and the people of Bougainville. However, the continued delays in expediting the funds to the ABG continues to handicap our development capacity. I do not want give the impression that Bougainville is begging from the National Government but I must do speak out as these funds rightfully belong to the people of Bougainville.

I am aware of difficult economic climate in PNG but it is important Bougainville must not be made to continue to demand for these funds. There are two RDG payments that must be made. First is the payment for the current year and the second as payment for the arrears that have accumulated over the years. If the National Government omits payment for the current year and simply pay the arrears, the amounts owed to Bougainville will continue to accrue. Therefore, it is better to settle it once and for all.

Finally, my view is simple; if the National Government cannot fast track the progress of the JSB matters then it must allow the ABG to start building our socio-economic and political capacities. We owe to the people of Bougainville to empower them through development and providing a practical democratic government so that they can realize their felt needs and aspirations. It is time we move away from the dependency syndrome that has impeded the progress on Bougainville and promote an industrious way forward.

I hope that at this JSB Meeting we can make some real progress on these matters.

Thank you.

 

 

Hon. Ishmael Toroama, MHR

President

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