In his first Christmas Message in office, ABG President Ishmael Toroama has urged Bougainvilleans to be Independence Ready by taking responsibility at their own levels.
“As we all take a well-earned rest from our daily duties, but most importantly, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, I want us to also think about the following Christmas Messages,” President Toroama said.
“Whether it is at the Individual level; the Family level; the Clan level; the Church level; the Community level; at the COE level, and at whatever level you belong to, we all have a responsibility to be independence ready,” President Toroama added.
“When we talk about being independent, it is not just political independence that we should have in mind but also being independent in the way we live our lives at all levels daily,” he said.
“We must maintain the spirit of independence or self -help that we have always known in our lives. We have always built our own classrooms, health centres, churches, feeder roads and so one. We have always worked on the land or sea to look after our families,” he said.
“All communities must be socially and economically “independent” through our own initiatives,” President Toroama said.
At the government level, ABG officers have already consulted with their PNG counterparts and reached a good understanding on the pathway to addressing the 98% vote for independence in 2021.
President Toroama also urged Bougainvilleans to take into account their responsibility to upholding the law and supporting the initiatives of the under capacitated Bougainville Police Service.
He said community leaders must support the government to maintaining social order in the communities and stopping corruption.
President Toroama also mentioned that must stop having expectations of handout mentality by government or the leaders that often encourages misuse of public funds.
He also revealed that in 2021, the ABG will develop and implement initiatives aimed at growing the Bougainville economy quickly. These initiatives include increasing the internal tax revenue base.
The government will look at establishing enterprises (such gold marketing) with early revenue returns, reviewing and improving the government business arms whilst also developing medium to long term plans.
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