Presidential Address at Minister for Public Service Swearing in Ceremony
Senior Provincial Magistrate Bruce Tasikul, Members of the Bougainville Executive Council and the Bougainville House of Representatives, Acting Chief Secretary, public servants and our development partners.
I also take note of members of the public who are here with us today to witness the swearing in ceremony of Hon. Emmanuel Carlos Kaetavara as the new Minister for Public Service in the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
From the outset I would like to take this time to thank the outgoing Minister for Public Service Hon. Melvin Wilolopa the Member for Lato for his brief but noteworthy contribution to the Ministry and the Department of Personnel Management.
In the last nine months as minister Mr Wiloplopa oversaw the MOU that was signed with the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance to build the capacity of our public service and he also facilitated the contract engagements of our senior public servants.
He has earned my sincerest gratitude for his service as a member of my cabinet and I am positive that he will continue to support the government.
In any government, change will always be required to foster solidarity, stability and maintaining the integrity of the government.
As Bougainville prepares for its independence, my government, moreover the Bougainville Executive Council is not immune from change that must be instituted to strengthen our position for Bougainville to become an independent nation.
This change in cabinet is required to maintain the confidence and trust our people have in the government to effectively deliver services and to ensure our resolve for an independent Bougainville is not compromised.
With the change of leadership in the Ministry of Public Service, it must be highlighted that there is much need for reforms in the Bougainville Public Service to ensure it is able to articulate the vision of the government.
The third of my Six Point Strategy encompasses asserting Administrative Control. This requires that we address issues in the Bougainville Public Service machinery. At this time the Department of Personnel Management must immediately facilitate the;
- Creation of a homegrown Bougainville Public Service Act
- Creation of the Bougainville Public Service General Orders to operationalize the Act, and
- Restructuring of the Bougainville Public Service with capacity building at the four regional officers (inclusion of Atolls as the fourth Region).
These are issues that have existed for far too long and which impede progress in the public service.
It is at this juncture that I must also express my displeasure upon learning that some public servants thought it best to give themselves a holiday when the executive government was in Kokopo for the Joint Consultations with the National Government.
Nine months is ample time for the public service to reform itself of the prevalent corporate culture of the past that gave way to wastage of government resources, corruption and complacency to thrive.
This sort of behavior demonstrates a blatant disregard for authority and will no longer be tolerated by my government. I do not have the time nor resources to waste on people who only want to be mere spectators of our journey to independence.
My government is committed to creating an industrious society in Bougainville. Despite this there are people still defying government directives and acting as if they are a law unto themselves. You have now forced my hand to take drastic measures to curb this sort of behavior within the halls of the Bougainville Administration.
Most of you will be aware that I have been traveling throughout Bougainville to each constituency to launch their Independence Ready Missions, which is an integral part of the Bougainville Independence Mission.
The public service through their respective departments and institutions are also required to adopt the Bougainville Independence Mission and start preparing for independence.
Independence Readiness for Bougainville will see a combined effort through people’s readiness through Nation Building and the Government Institutions Ready through State Building.
This means that we are all in this journey together. The overwhelming 97.7 percent that voted for independence can only be realized through unity, hard work and commitment.
Upon assuming the Presidency, I promised reforms in government, in the public service and societal Bougainville as a whole. These reforms require difficult decisions that have to be made at the risk of gaining the disfavor of the few who are threatened by change.
To those who fear change I want to reassure you that change enables progress and progress is a sign of growth, maturity and independence.
Let me be frank in saying that my decision to make changes in my cabinet was made from a position of strength and not one that was made in haste. My government is intact and we will continue to deliver services to our people and on the political front we will deliver Bougainville’s independence.
I have faith in our new Minister for Public Service Hon. Emmanuel Carlos Kaetavara. Despite being a first time MP he brings a wealth of experience into the Bougainville Executive Council.
He is a young man who has been involved in Bougainville’s political journey since the inception of the ABG in 2005. He understands the dynamics of governance on Bougainville and he has an unwavering commitment to the Bougainville Independence Mission.
As President I congratulate you on your appointment and formally welcome you to the Bougainville Executive Council.
God Bless you all and God Bless Bougainville.
Thank You.
Hon. Ishmael Toroama MHR
President
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