Bougainville referendum

In the Bougainville Peace Road Map, the people of Bougainville will cast their votes in 2019 to decide to be part of Papua New Guinea or become the newest Independent State in the World.  

With the Issue of Writs for the election a month away, PNG Party General Secretary Kila Poka said his party will let the people of Bougainville decide its future.  

The road map to referendum was the hottest topic raised during referendum awareness undertaken by Bougainville Electoral Commissioner (OBEC) and the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) last week.  

Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, George Manu, said the awareness drive covered Central and South Bougainville.

Manu said his team also delivered copies of the Bougainville Referendum primer and flyers to those that attended these sessions at Arawa and Buin Markets.  

This will allow people to access key issues such as the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the upcoming referendum.

Supported by the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Peacebuilding Fund, the Community Information Center will serve as a “one-stop shop” where visitors can learn about the work of the ABG and the national government on the Referendum and implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

However, he made it clear that matters of Bougainville are of paramount importance, including that of Bougainville’s referendum, and discussions should be debated often.

Powi recently headed the National Parliamentary Bipartisan Committee on Bougainville Matters, where issues relating to the autonomous region went under the spotlight after a week-long assessment and consultations were carried out.