An independent agency will prepare, plan and conduct the Bougainville Referendum in 2019.
A joint administrative agreement to set up the Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) was signed recently by the National Government, Bougainville Autonomous Government (ABG) and the independent offices of PNG Electoral Commission and ABG Electoral Commission.
The Governor-General will have to officially sign and release the charter of BRC before the process of staffing the agency can happen, with less than two years remaining before the people of Bougainville decide their future.
During the signing, Chief Secretary to PNG Government, Isaac Lupari, said: “BRC is an important agency, and the National Government and ABG will work together with the support of the development partners to support its work.”
He said the referendum is subject to the fulfilment of two key conditions of the peace agreement, which are weapons disposal and installation of good governance structure.
ABG Chief Secretary Joseph Nobetau said BRC was both governments’ decision.
“It is an important occasion, the leaders from the National Government, Prime Minister and President of ABG had agreed at a JSP to set up a neutral and independent entity to prepare, plan and conduct the Bougainville Referendum and that will be the Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC),” Nobetau said.
“It remains both governments’ responsibilities and the support from our development partners for the commission to become fully responsible, and at the earliest possible time, deliver its mandated responsibilities.
“Time is not on our side.”
However, Nobetau is confident that last week’s signing renews the momentum of their work.