Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB)

President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama, officially launched the plans and applauded his government’s efforts in creating both plans.

President Toroama said it was essential to have a strategic plan to build their human resource capacity, improve and develop revenue streams, build infrastructure, and enable a stable economy on Bougainville.

The delegation currently in East New Britain is headed by Henry Baraka - Director PMU, Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary Operations Department of President & Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) and Horta Boskey - Strategic & Liaison Officer to the Chief Secretary, Department of President and BEC.

President Toroama was accompanied by his wife Lady Betty Toroama and the AROB delegation.

The visiting delegation was met with a gracious reception not only from Governor Chan but also from the traditional Maimais of New Ireland, who bestowed upon them a customary chiefly welcome, signifying the importance of the occasion.

The purpose of President Toroama and his delegation's visit to New Ireland is to participate in celebrating New Ireland Day, an annual event scheduled for Wednesday, July 26^th to Thursday, July 27th, 2023.

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.

Described as a historical moment signaling a new era of economic growth and mutual benefit for both parties, this milestone marks the commencement of a significant partnership, one that aims to bring about transformative change to the socioeconomic landscape of Bougainville.

Vice President and Minister responsible for Commerce, Trade, Industry and Economic Development, Patrick Nisira, thanked the BRL for taking the risk in investing in Bougainville.

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.

The ELCPNG Evangelism Department’s head, Reverend Hans Giegere, said this congregation was founded by a Bougainvillean; a Lutheran church member from Trinity parish at Lae’s Three-Mile area, who returned home in 2017.

Rev Giegere, after his visit to the congregation, revealed that the church member, Dominic Boenvavio, hails from Topu village in Suir LLG, North Bougainville electorate.

While in Lae, Boenvavio was not just an active church member but also an elder of Trinity parish. Upon his return, he felt compelled to establish a Lutheran congregation in his home area.

Families have set up makeshift houses in the gaping pit, and men, women and children pass their days digging for whatever gold and copper they can reach.

It's risky and dangerous work, but many feel they have no other option.

They live among decaying infrastructure and the skeleton of the mine's concentrator, left over from the massive operation run by Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) between 1972 and 1989.

This was the sentiment shared by the Autonomous Region of Bougainville President, Ishmael Toroama, during last week’s opening of the annual ABG Leaders Symposium at the Hutjena Hall in Buka, North Bougainville.

This year’s leader’s symposium is themed ‘Implementing Independence Readiness’.

“Bougainville is on the cusp of taking control of its own politics and governance as an independent nation, no earlier than 2025 and no later than 2027. We must therefore make sure that our future is not left to chance and be deliberate in our intents,” Toroama said.

NCfR works in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) to respond to gender-based violence through safe houses, counselling, and referrals.

The centre also works closely with schools, community advocates and churches on prevention programs and awareness raising among local communities throughout ARoB. Their focus on building non-violent communities by engaging with men and boys to bring about social change has been well-received on the ground.