Part of the PNG and ABG Government’s commitment for the Referendum is the establishment of an independent body to administer the polling.
That body is the Bougainville Referendum Commission.
While the charter for the establishment and implementation of the Commission has been successfully signed, the Commission’s set up is behind schedule.
The Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government had four options to conduct the Referendum.
Both governments have omitted the options of either the PNG Electoral Commission and the Bougainville Electoral Commission, nor both, to administer the Referendum.
Instead, in a 2016 meeting, both governments agreed for an independent body to conduct the Referendum.
The agreement by the two governments and the Charter for the creation of the commission were both signed early this year. But according to a recent presentation by the Bougainville Electoral Commission at the National Research Institute, the responsible body, the Bougainville Referendum Commission or BRC, is yet to be established.
The Bougainville Referendum Commission is to conduct its work independently; free from influence.
The only substantive achievements in the establishment of the BRC up to November 2017 are the signing of the agreement, arrangement and charter documents.
No work has been done to establish the BRC and its operational plan.
The Bougainville Electoral Commission suggests that the immediate task that the two governments need to do immediately is to appoint respective two nominees to the BRC board of commissioners.
The ABG needs to appoint two of its members – a male and a female – whilst the National Government should do likewise.
Both governments must also appoint a BRC chairperson.
The ABG have already done that and are waiting for the National Government’s response and discussion.
But for all these to happen, funding is crucial.
The two governments need to make available funding for the establishment of the BRC and for the BRC to be able to progress a number of its activities in preparation to conduct a successful and peaceful Referendum.
(Loop file pic)