Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG)

Public Service Minister, Joe Sungi and DPM Secretary Taies Sansan were in Buka recently to handover powers during a momentous ceremony.

He acknowledged the tremendous work by his predecessor leaders who began the process and brought it this far.

The Public Service Ministry begun its support for the Bougainville Government since 2012, assisting the Bougainville Public Service from its transitional stages to the creation of the Public Service proper.

President Ishmael Toroama made this statement during the opening of the 2021 Legal Year themed; ‘Partnering with the Community to Ensuring Effective delivery of Justice in Bougainville’.

Speaking at Arawa Town on Thursday (February 11^th), President Toroama said Bougainvilleans must uphold law and order in the communities as responsible citizens.

The ABG 2021 budget was received at Treasury on Thursday, January 7^th, 2021.

Following the submission, the Treasurer said: “I was pleased to receive the 2021 Budget Submission from the Autonomous Bougainville Government for an appropriation of K390,489,916. The budget was delivered on behalf of the ABG President, Ishmael Toroama, by the ABG Minister for Finance and Treasury, Mathias Roman Salas.

“I was very impressed by a professional and concise overview of the budget presented by the ABG team, and enjoyed discussing some key budget issues.

At the next meeting of the Bougainville Executive Council the Minister for Community Development, Thompson Gitovia, will share these recommendations for consideration.

The Ministers are as follows:

UN Resident Coordinator in PNG, Gianluca Rampolla, said: “Throughout the process, Bougainvilleans exhibited deep rooted respect for human rights and democratic principles and demonstrated a profound commitment to peace.

“Once again a woman has been elected outside of the reserved seats in Bougainville, which is a significant milestone for women’s political participation in Papua New Guinea.

Acting National Statistician John Igitoi said the NSO is partnering with provincial administrations to share costs.

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville was the first to establish this partnership.

Officers of the National Statistical Office are now traveling the Eastern part of the highlands region to create similar Memorandum of Agreements with Provincial Administrations in cost-sharing. 

Acting National Statistician John Igitoi said the NSO is positioning itself to cut costs.

The Bougainville Executive Council made the decision this week, following public outcry from local communities across Bougainville for a total liquor ban during the aftermath of the referendum.

The acting Chief Secretary to the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Thomas Raivet, issued a circular to all Bougainville Public Servants notifying of this extension.

The Bougainville Police Service has been directed to maintain surveillance on all affected liquor shops including any ‘black market’ outlets across Bougainville.

In a statement, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) said the team had been conducting a regular monitoring trip to Nissan Island as part of the TB/HIV program implemented by the Department of Health in collaboration with implementing partners, Catholic Health Services and Save The Children.

“Seven passengers were aboard the boat that went missing, including three health workers, a referred patient from Nissan Health Centre and chaperone, and the boat skipper and assistant crew member.

The National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) have initially agreed to set a target date for June 15^th, 2019.

However, the processes that will lead up to it are yet to be established by both the National Government and the ABG.

Chairman of the Bougainville Referendum Commission, Bertie Ahern, said there has to be a certainty of funding to fund the referendum and the Constitutional Regulations must be in place before progress is made.