Bougainville Diocese

Bishop Bernard was speaking to members of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish Congregation at Hahela on Sunday.

He said it was crucial for a peaceful post referendum transition period.

“We’ll not tell you to vote for independence or vote for autonomy. We’ll only support whatever the outcome is – independence or autonomy,” he told the congregation.

He further said as the Bishop, he will not let his church get involved in politics as it was the work of the government.

Longa, aged 70, started work in 2010 and later held onto the Administrators’ post in 2016 when the position was left vacant in 2016 after the previous administrator, Tony Luwong, left.

He handed his finance job to a young successor, Julian Kuheu, from Siwai in South Bougainvile.