Dr John Momis

President and chairman of the BEC, Dr John Momis, announced the decision following the conclusion of the special BEC meeting on Friday, August 23^rd.

He said the decision to terminate Nobetau was made in the best interest of Bougainville’s unity as the people move closer to the conduct of the referendum in three months’ time.

The BEC earlier referred Nobetau to the Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee (BSAC) on allegations of incompetence and insubordination.

ABG President Dr John Momis made this statement during the final part of the week long Bougainville Referendum Roadshow in Buka Town.

“As your leader I urge you all to vote for option two and that is independence,” President Momis said.

“Having a result that presents a unified Bougainvillean choice gives Bougainville leaders the negotiating power to negotiate with the National Government.”

ABG President, Dr John Momis, made this statement during a recent special Parliamentary Sitting of the Bougainville House of Representatives.

“The world will be watching, and the actions of all of us in this House will be held to account. We must therefore ensure that we manage these expectations,” Momis said.

“The referendum is a milestone, but it will not lead to any immediate outcome. The day after the referendum the hard work of negotiation must begin,” Momis added.

Speaking at the Central Bougainville Development Forum in Wakunai District, ABG President Chief Dr John Momis said the solidarity exemplified by Bougainville leaders must also be exercised by the people.

President Momis said he was impressed by the initiative by Central Bougainville MP, Sam Akoitai, in mobilising all development stakeholders in Central Bougainville to further development in the area.

“I agree with Mr Akoitai that there is no time for spectators; we must actively participate in developing Central Bougainville and Bougainville as a whole,” Momis stated.

“We welcome the valuable contribution that these experts will make for progressing the joint implementation of autonomy arrangements as per the Bougainville Peace Agreement,” President Momis said.

He assured people that the purpose of the review was not to change any part of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

“The five yearly review of autonomy arrangements is simply a requirement of the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

ABG President Dr John Momis, in a special parliament convened last week to discuss the JSB, said some of the agendas are outstanding from previous meetings while others are focused on the referendum preparations.

The referendum preparations will be a dominant issue of discussion in the JSB and with the recent formation of the Bougainville Referendum Commission, there is an urgency to operationalise it.

ABG President Dr John Momis made this statement in commemoration of International Women’s Day.

“The traditional role of women in most parts of Bougainville has always been custodians of the land, providing a safety net to society and keepers of the peace, this role has not changed; women still play a vital role in contemporary Bougainville today,” Momis said.

“I am also proud to say today that a new role that Bougainville women have assumed is one that has redefined their roles in Bougainville and that is of peace maker.”

Most of them have since married and settled into village life and have given up on education.

But the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is adamant that these youths and even adults will be given a second chance at bettering themselves.

ABG President, Dr John Momis said that the lost generation have not been forgotten by the government.

“Bougainville must have its own education system that caters for the lost generation as well as people who missed out on getting an education.

Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President, John Momis made the strong statement following reports of the U Vistract backed ‘Bougainville Kina’ that was initiated by failed money scheme boss and recluse, Noah Misingku.

Momis said the ‘Bougainville Kina’ is being used in parts of South and North Bougainville by a faction that has aligned themselves with the Mekamui group.

President Momis explained that Bougainville despite being an autonomous region cannot at this stage have its own currency as this power still firmly rests with the national government.

There have been concerns by Bougainvilleans that the weapons should be kept as an insurance policy, particularly one shared by the hard-line secessionists who foresee the upsurge of another revolution should the national government fail to ratify the outcome of the referendum in their favour.

President of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, John Momis on the other hand has reassured Bougainvilleans that to meet the requirements of the BPA people have to surrender the weapons still in their possession.