PM assures ABG of aid
By ISAAC NICHOLAS
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has assured the people of Bougainville that the National Government stands ready to ensure the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) achieves its developmental programs in the next five years.
Mr O’Neill said this when he presented K100 million to ABG President John Momis.The presentation was witnessed by Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc and Member for Koroba-Kopiago Philip Undialu at Morauta Haus.
ABG President Mr Momis after receiving the cheque expressed his sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister and Government for the funds which he said will used to build capacity for the province to generate revenue and be self-sufficient.
“This is welcome news for the people of Bougainville and we are committed to working in partnership to ensure development programs are implemented as per the Bougainville Peace Agreement,” Mr Momis said.
Prime Minister O’Neill said the K100m which was allocated in the 2012 Budget is the first component of K500m that the national government will give to the people of Bougainville over the next five years,
He said this arrangement was agreed to during the Joint Supervisory Body meeting (JSB) in Port Moresby in February 2011.
“The K500m commitment is additional funding from the Government to support key strategic development projects that will enable the Bougainville people to recover from the crisis.”
“This will also grow their economy swiftly in order to successfully implement the autonomous arrangements entered into under the Peace Agreement.”
“Within the next five years, the Government will continue to support the ABG with such funding to ensure the people of Bougainville receive the developmental services that they deserve and also to make sure the intensive arrangements are intensified,” Mr O’Neill said.
Mr O’Neill said a JSB meeting will be held in Kokopo, East New Britain Province next month for both governments to renew the partnership by discussing key agenda items which the Joint Technical Teams are currently preparing.
The JSB is comprised of Ministers from the PNG Government and the ABG, in which the Prime Minister is the Chairman. The ABG President is the co-chairman and the body is responsible for identifying and implementing developmental programs on Bougainville.
Mr O’Neill said during the meeting he will lead his key Ministers to hold discussions with the ABG to identify and implement vital projects on Bougainville.
The Prime Minister said he will also visit Bougainville on 16 October - a day before the JSB meeting in Kokopo - to meet with the ABG leaders.
“The National Coordination Office of Bougainville Affairs (NCOBA) is working hard to ensure that the upcoming meetings in Arawa and Kokop are not only successful but ensure they come up with constructive outcomes for Bougainville and PNG to move forward together.
“As a Government, we also thank our donor partners like AusAID and New Zealand Aid for providing support in the JSB process. We value their support and we will continue to work with them,” the Prime Minister said.
The train left the station 2013
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