Bougainville President

“Mi kam long peim rispek na givim bikpela luksave long papa bilong kantri, Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare,” said Toroama at Kreer Heights.

“Kam bilong mi tu em long toksave long em olsem Bougainville em i wok long redi nau long wokabaut em yet.”

President Toroama further described Sir Michael as an inspiration for selfless leadership.

“Bougainville has always shared a very close relationship with the leadership and people of East Sepik Province. I am here to strengthen these bonds while looking into the future of Bougainville,” President Toroama stated.

President Toroama issued the statement following the move by several parties who are trying to raise a class action suit against Rio Tinto for their role in developing the Panguna Mine and the effects it had on the environment and the communities around the mine.

The Panguna Legacy Impact Assessment is being funded by Rio Tinto through Tetra Tech Coffey who are conducting the assessment.

It is also the first time Rio Tinto has made any commitment to Bougainville since the cessation of mining operations in Panguna, Central Bougainville.

Bougainville President, Ishmael Toroama, made the statement during his New Year’s message for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

President Toroama said in the last three years, his government had focused on the post referendum joint consultations with the National Government.

With the 2019 Bougainville Referendum results about to be tabled in the National Parliament for ratification this year, the ABG is focused on capacity building in each of its social and development sectors.

Bougainville’s new President, Ishmael Toroama, is calling for unity.

Toroama, a former combatant and peace advocate, was declared president-elect on September 23^rd after the 23^rd elimination.

The former commander of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army is a signatory to the Bougainville Peace Agreement and a driving force behind the weapons disposal pillar under the agreement.

On Tuesday in parliament, O'Neill categorically stated that there is no guarantee that referendum will take place on the set date, because requirements of the peace agreement have not been met.

“I want to make a very clear position of government, the referendum is subject to all the fulfilments clearly stated in the peace agreement, it’s a long way off so I don’t want Papua New Guineans and Bougainvilleans to think it’s an easy path, that just tomorrow we will wake up and have a referendum, it may be such that it may not be possible,” said O’Neill.