Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB)

Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, says teams 92 to 100, in Selau Suir, are holding onto the boxes until payment is made.

Gamato said the commission is currently working to address the issue so that the boxes are returned.

Polling in ARoB is scheduled to conclude by Wednesday.

In other parts of the New Guinea Islands, counting for East New Britain is scheduled for Friday once all ballot boxes are brought into Kokopo.

Polling in Manus has been completed while West New Britain is expected to be completed as of yesterday.

A delegation led by Minister for Public Services, Sir Puka Temu, and Personnel Management Secretary, John Kali, will travel to ARoB to execute the MOU which is a requirement under the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

The MOU will see the decentralisation of National Government powers to the ARoB Government and include: human resource management; education, labour  and employment; agriculture and livestock; communication and information; community development, arts and culture; health; tourism; and environment and conservation.

Himata told Loop PNG during the Departments Corporate and Strategic Plan Launching that he will be taking up the role of Mining Secretary in ARoB.

He said he will be assisting the autonomous government in developing the mining sector in the island.

Himata hands the reigns over the department to Harry Kore, who has assumed the role of Acting Secretary.

During his farewell speech, Himata said the government could not have appointed a better candidate saying Kore would deliver many of the objectives that are outlined in the recently launched plans.

The K4.8 million project is part of Australia’s long running partnership to help maintain Bougainville’s road network.

A formal ceremony was held  on Thursday February 16, to mark the progress of an Australian funded project to seal selected town roads in Buin.

The town roads in Buin are a vital link connecting communities and businesses.

The newly sealed roads will improve all-weather access to Buin Secondary School, residences, shops and essential services.

The project will deliver safer, more reliable roads for the people of Southern Bougainville.

These are some of the prospects when the Australian trade delegation travels to ARoB today.

Gary Aylwood, a member of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Tradelinked group, says the delegation consists of consultants who will provide training for local agricultural business and assist in the kick starting of old technology.

“In the case of the agricultural sector, we’ve got some consultants that can help farmers and co-ops to improve their yields and they’ll be having some discussion there to assist, particularly in the cocoa industry,” says Aylwood.