Member for Taunita Tinputz Hon. Morris Opeti has been sworn in as the Minister for Community Development in the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
Mr Opeti was sworn in today by Magistrate Michael Pepi at the Bougainville Administration Complex and was witnessed by Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama as well as several members of his cabinet and the ABG Chief Secretary Shadrach Himata.
Mr Opeti thanked his predecessor Thompson Gitovea for his services to the Ministry and Department of Community Development and vowed to continue to continue working to progress the department.
Opeti signing documents
President Toroama said that in any government, change will always be required to foster solidarity, stability and maintaining the integrity of the government.
“As Bougainville prepares for its independence, my government, moreover the Bougainville Executive Council is not immune from change that must be instituted to strengthen our position for Bougainville to become an independent nation,” President Toroama said.
“At a time when Bougainville is concentrating on nation building we must also focus on building our human capacity through integral human development programs and improving the social welfare of our people,” Toroama added.
The ABG President said Bougainville can achieve this through its social institutions in music, sports and religion. The activities from these institutions will encourage our people to become more responsible members of society who can contribute meaningfully to our communities.
He told Mr Opeti that the focus of the department should be on the ABG’s Independence Readiness initiative.
This would require the department to completion of Drawdown of remaining 290 Powers and Functions of Civil Registry and Lukautim Pikinini Act (Family Protection Act)
Progression and completion of Community Development sectoral policies and possible legislations (public/private partnership policy, youth policy, gender policy, sports policy, arts and culture policy and family and protection legislation and policy).
For the ABG there has to be a committed political will to drive these outstanding priorities and have them implemented and completed.
“We must now look at creating policies and legislations to empower the Department of Community Development,” President Toroama said.
(Pictures supplied by ABG Media)
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