SOM Pioneer Party is Bougainville’s very own political party.
It will forever be remembered as the island’s first ever party in Papua New Guinea’s political arena, since independence in 1975.
It hopes to be the vehicle to drive the people of Bougainville to their political destiny – referendum and independence.
One of the party founders, Newton Kauba, who is with the south Bougainville election team, said the Party is funded by their business arm.
“Our business arm is the Bougainville Import and Export General Corporation Limited (BIEG), a joint venture between ABG foreign investors and more than 5000 shareholders on Bougainville, a business that is partly owned by the Bougainville people.”
He further said: “We have received a lot of criticisms and even objections from our national members of parliament, who never wanted this party to be registered.
“Some even went to the extent to draw conclusions that this is a Chinese party. I, as one of the party founders, am not Chinese.
“We have Sam Kauona representing the former BRA Chris Uma and Ishmael Toroama, all in support of the SOM Pioneer Party.”