Bougainville Copper Ltd (BCL)

The women, supported by youths, men and children, were disputing the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), proposed to take place in Panguna tomorrow (June 16), between the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Panguna landowners. This will see Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) return to reopen the Mine before June 2019.

Tourist operator in the Wakunai area of Central Bougainville Junias Repiriri told PNG Loop that everyone will benefit greatly out from tourism, because you do not need qualification to become a tour guide, but just know how to speak English.

“We need more funding from the Government and we need more training especially in terms of capacity building in order to get tourism off the ground,” Repiriri said.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill confirmed this in Parliament this morning.

He was responding to questions raised by Sinasina-Yongomugl MP Kerenga Kua in the ownership of the 17.4 percent shareholding that the prime minister announced yesterday.

"Let me correct the issues he has raised," O’Neill said.

"These shares are not given to the ABG, it is given to the landowners and people of Bougainville.

"I have deliberately done that so ABG does not control the shares."

Announcing the transfer today in Parliament, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the Government is acutely aware of the torment and pain that the people of Bougainville have endured and the transfer of shares is the right thing to do.

"My concern is the health, wellbeing and prosperity of the people of Bougainville," said O'Neill. With this transfer, the people of Bougainville will now own a combined shareholding of 53.8 percent of BCL.