Consultations for a constitution for Bougainville towards independence has stated and is nearing its end with the Southern region final chapter for the consultations.
Vice President Patrick Nisira part of the envoy made it clear that the process towards independence for Bougainville has been laid out and there is no room for doubts, as the ABG has the main goal of independence for Bougainville.
“We are not second guessing we are working with the PNG Government to get Independence for Bougainville, we are merely implementing the wishes of the people of Bougainville expressed through the Bougainville Referendum conducted under PNG Laws, to be an Independent country.
“The people of Bougainville made a choice, we try to bring justification for the 97.7 percent why did people of Bougainville vote? Let’s not dwell on that it was a free and fair vote.
“We have been across the country in all four regions and we are doing Political lobbying for the final process of ratification in Parliament we want to gain support of the members of parliament in PNG,” Nisira added
The Bougainville Referendum vote in 2019 had an overwhelming support of 97.7 percent that voted for independence, it was from two options made available, the first being greater Autonomy and the second option Independence. The majority of Bougainvillean’s opted for Independence.
With the referendum results clear on the choice for independence began the Post Referendum consultations, with the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meetings paving the way for a foreseeable final political settlement, which upholds the terms and conditions of both the Bougainville Peace Agreement and part XVI of the PNG Constitution on the Bougainville Government and Bougainville Referendum.
After the three Post referendum consultations in Kokopo, Wabag and Port Moresby, the recent signing of the Era Kone Covenant on the finalisation of the Bougainville Referendum on Independence, has set the ball rolling for a final political settlement.
The PNG Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government both agreed in Port Moresby to uphold the commitments made in Kokopo and Wabag for the implementation of arrangements for independence/political settlement no earlier than 2025 and no later than 2027.
With a foreseeable future ahead the formulation of an independent nation is founded on a constitution, thus the ABG has assigned the Bougainville Constitutional Planning Commission to conduct a consultation with Bougainvilleans across Papua New Guinea.
Similar to how Papua New Guinea Established their constitution Bougainville will have a wide consultation for a founding constitution.
The commission is concluding its consultations in the southern region and are in Port Moresby and will later move on to Alotau.
The commission was represented by Vice president of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Patrick Nisira and Minister for Independence Mission Implementation and the Attorney General Ezekiel Masatt, who is also the commission’s deputy chairperson, the two spoke to the first gathering at the University of Papua New Guinea at the Drill Hall.
The commission said the purpose of the consultation is to take account of the opinions and inputs by Bougainvillea’s living across the country in order to produce the first draft of an autochthonous constitution, meaning a constitution that will be native to Bougainville to be an independent nation.
Attorney General Ezekiel Masatt said the consultation upholds the 2019 referendum that had 97.7 percent of Bougainvillians voting for independence, he gave a patriotic uplifting speech to those that gathered, telling those present that Bougainvillians must take responsibility of their part in this process towards independence.
“If you look at the referendum and a general election, the processes are the same except in the elections where we vote for individuals and they are replaced or retained in a set time.
“No one before or after the referendum will ever go through this process, it is this generation that has voted for generations to come. Voting through the referendum is not enough, the work we are doing to establish a constitution for Bougainville will give meaning to our referendum vote and shape the independent society we talk of.
“If we had voted overwhelmingly for independence 97.7 percent our responsibility did not end at the polling booth it actually started now that the commission is here we must acknowledge the responsibility that I voted for generations to come.
“No one forced me to make the decision of independence over greater autonomy, we owe it to future generations to shape our society and must take part in these consultations to develop our constitution”, Massat said.
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville had decided on the Path to Independence through a vote of referendum under the transitional Government which is the Autonomous Bougainville Government,
Now what is left is the ratification by the 11th parliament in PNG, for a final political settlement.
Whilst the political lobbying is ongoing, Bougainville has to have a strong economy that can support the growth of an independent nation, Vice President Nisira highlighted a few key projects that will bolster economic growth to propel Bougainville towards Independence.
“If we can work together, we can bring forth an economy that can sustain our independence, the political process is on track, but we do recognize the need for a strong economy for independence, we do not deny it, we are going to address it.
“Bougainville Copper bankrolled PNGs independence, and we have the mine, we have the asset, the President and the people of Panguna have agreed to reopen the mine, they want to create a local entity to attract international investors partnering with the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“Hopefully by August the Government will give the Exploration License ELO1, to start bringing in investors,” Nisira said.
“Hopefully by August the Government will give the Exploration License ELO1, to start bringing in investors,”
Vice President ABG Patrick Nisira
The Vice President also mentioned that there are other projects as well inline to start which includes the
Manitai Limestone project, and the Bougainville National Gold Refinery which Nisira says is 80% Complete.
“We will keep our Gold in Bougainville.
“The investor will hold 60% whilst the Bougainville Government will have 40% share,” Nisira said.
The Vice President also mentioned the Bougainville Economic Plan which he says is in its draft phase.
“With this plan the ABG, Civil Society and business community will have better coordination towards building an efficient plan to improve the economic status of Bougainville,” Nisira added.
The other important projects include the building of enabling infrastructures, through donor partners and the government of PNG. This encompasses the construction of roads bridges and wharfs.
“We are still working on Bougainville Power to solve power issues in the region, we are also looking into green energy, Solar power and the hydro project in Tinputz will be revisited.
Consultations in Port Moresby will continue on Saturday at the UPNG Drill hall.
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