Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG)

Emphasizing the importance of recognizing the ability to save for the future, Toroama asserted that Bougainvilleans hold the key to shaping their sovereign destiny.

During the announcement, Toroama urged citizens, including cabinet ministers, public servants, and members of the private sector, to prioritize saving. He highlighted the government's commitment to advancing the aspirations of Bougainvilleans, citing various projects, including a savings and loans society, as crucial steps toward financial self-sufficiency.

The National Narcotics Bureau and the National Mental Health Directorate conducted a three-week training session in the notorious Wakunai District, known for its involvement in marijuana cultivation and supply.

Participants, including representatives from various sectors such as ex-combatants, chiefs, youths, women, auxiliary police, Catholic Diocese Health, Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation, Callan Services, Bougainville Healthy Community Programme, and nurses from Buka General Hospital underwent training. 

President Toroama in his address to the Bougainville House of Representatives, clarified that the review process would adhere to legal transparency, involving extensive stakeholder consultations and requiring approvals from the Bougainville Executive Council before any amendments reach Parliament. 

He emphasized that the amendments, stemming from the Panguna Mine Dialogue, were unrelated to previous Caballus proposals.

The signing on Friday August 18 in Port Moresby, between the Road Traffic Authority (RTA) and the ABG is a milestone. AROB is the 10th province that have signed the MOU, this gives the region powers to operate and manage its own transport system and services. 

As outlined in the MoU, the Road Traffic Authority will delegate all the functions under the Road Traffic Act 2014, to the provinces to empower them to perform, generate revenue and at the same time improve road transport services.  

Autonomous Bougainville Government President, Ishmael Toroama, when addressing the Joint Supervisory Body meeting yesterday, said more than 20,000 lives have been lost in the Conflict, infrastructures demolished to basically nothing, and the rule of law, while being reconstructed slowly, mainly exists through traditional laws and systems.

ABG’s Minister for Commerce, Trade and Economic Development and Vice President, Patrick Nisira announced this with the signing of the MoU from the ABG to Capital Insurance to assist in the establishment of the company in the region.

The office was established by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) with the technical support of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

This significant milestone marks a crucial step toward addressing the issue of persons who went missing during the Bougainville Conflict and providing solace to affected families.

Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama made this statement following the Bougainville Executive Council’s decision to refuse the mineral licence applications by joint-venture entities involving Wyndale Holdings Pty Ltd and its local partners.

The Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) is the authority on Bougainville that grants mineral exploration license applications upon advice from the Bougainville Mining Advisory Council.

Toroama made this statement during the recent signing of a shareholders agreement with the Bougainville Refinery Limited (BRL) in Buka.

Toroama stressed that BRL is one project that will highlight and give assurance to investors coming into Bougainville, adding that under the 60/40 arrangement, 40 percent for the government and its people will be broken further to drive independence aspirations and also to set up a sovereign wealth fund.

This collaboration aims to provide targeted training to elected officials, both women and men, in order to foster good governance, inclusive decision-making, citizen-focused consultation, and project identification.

To support this endeavor, a substantial investment of $12 million has been allocated for the construction of Community Government halls and offices across nineteen constituencies. Recently, the communities of Haku, Tsitalato, Tonsu, and Selau-Suir in North Bougainville marked the opening of their newly constructed Community Government halls and offices.