Independence

Prime Minister James Marape has always advocated that Bougainville’s efforts towards achieving independence must be handled with great care.  Hence, the creation of Bougainville Affairs ministry and the Bougainville Government.

When presenting his final Ministerial Statement for the year 2022 on December 20^th, President Ishmael Toroama said the Era Kone Covenant has enabled a lot of progress in preparing for the ratification.

“Our technical team is currently engaged with the national technical team to deliberate on the parameters of the Constitutional regulations and the ratification process,” he stated.

Students organized different sports games and competed in their house teams, green, yellow, red and blue.  

The students did not wear their normal house team attires on this day but all were encouraged to wear PNG colour attire to depict the occasion.

The head girl for 2020-2021 Jena Kum expressed what independence means to her and what it means to the National School of Excellence.

The poll commissioned by French television found that 66 percent of eligible voters plan to vote against independence in the referendum on 4 November.

The poll, which was carried out by Harris Interactive, involved just over 1,000 phone interviews over ten days in September and has a margin of error between 1.4 to 3.1 points.

After a 20-year phase of decolonisation under the Noumea Accord, voters will be asked whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty, which means taking full control over defence, justice, policing, monetary policy and foreign affairs.

The surveys were carried out by the agencies Kantar TNS and I-Scope, just over six months before the territory's referendum on independence.

The first poll found that 58 percent were firmly against independence while 12 percent were for.

With 15 percent of respondents undecided and 12 percent declining to answer, the pollsters suggest between 66 and 73 percent oppose independence.

The I-Scope poll, which was commissioned by the Caledonia TV station, found 60 percent were against independence and 23 for, with the rest still undecided.

He said with the current economic crisis the country is facing, the global economy is uncertain, with the risk of conflict and economic instability.

“Our country joins with our partners around the world to deal with the greatest challenges.

“Challenges like climate change are real, and has caused extreme weather in our country and around the Pacific.

“From devastating tropical storms to extreme drought, homes and communities have been damaged and lives have been lost.

“We must prepare for future disasters.”

Speaking at the Independence Hill to mark the country’s 42 year’s anniversary, O’Neill said our country is very unique as we have tens of thousands of years of history, different cultures but have united as one people.

“We need to focus on what we can do to play a part in our national development – both as individuals and in our communities.

“The opportunities before our country are great, but there is a lot of work ahead for each of us if we are to reach our true national potential.”

Celebrations started on Friday in Buka Town and continued to Saturday coinciding with the East New Britain Day where hundreds of Tolais who live and work in Bougainville and also those who got married to Bougainvilleans staged various cultural activities.

At the main Hutjena Oval in Buka Town where the twins Celebrations were held, there was excitement unity and peace as the Tolais and Bougainvilleans put on their cultural shows.

After 41 years of Papua New Guinea’s Independence this isolated villagers scattered in the vast Sepik Plains area  are seening Government services finally reaching them.

Yesterday saw the opening of Boru Health Centre and Timbunangua to Kwaliawa road linking the scattered villagers with Kubalia Station road network  linking onto the  Sepik Highway.

The Konge Ring constituency celebrated in style at Timbunakwa Village to mark the occasion by putting on drama and string band performances because now they will not sleep on the road to travel to Wewak again.

Digicel Play brings Wantoks together to watch the best in TV entertainment whether it be sports, drama, movies or kids’ entertainment we have it all.

Check out our line up for this week below.

Happy 41^st Independence Anniversary PNG!

Enjoy your viewing!

TVWAN

INDEPENDECE DAY LINE UP (16^th September)

12:45pm – My Father, My Country

1:45pm – Angels of War

2:45pm – New Guinea Patrol