The PNG Government through Prime Minister, James Marape on Tuesday signed a covenant known as the “Era Kone Covenant” with the Autonomous Region of Bougainville Government through President, Ismael Toroama.
The Covenant sets the pathway for the results of the Bougainville Referendum and Joint Post Referendum Consultations to be brought to the National Parliament to deliberate on.
The ABG and the National Government resolved at the 3rd Post-referendum consultations held at the APEC Haus on the 9th of December 2021 to sign a covenant.
Following the signing, ABG President, Ishmael Toroama thanked the Marape lead Government and the Technical Team from both parties for their commitment to effect section 342 of the Constitution which commits both Governments to consult on the Referendum Results.
Toroama said key events such as his Government’s tenure ending in 2025 and the 11th PNG Parliament concluding it’s term in 2027 should be borne in mind so that the constitutional obligation is completed in a timely manner.
“I therefore foresee the tabling of the Referendum Results and the Consultative Outcomes in 2023 to the National Parliament by the Minister responsible as prescribed in section 342 of the National Constitution and as agreed to in the Wabag Roadmap,” Toroama said.
The Toroama lead ABG Government believes that in order for both parties to meet the timeline, the following must be done:
• The covenant be the main agenda at the 4th Joint Supervisory Body meeting next week
• The Technical Teams in both Governments immediately begin drafting the constitutional regulation for endorsement by respective Executive Councils and Gazetted before the General Elections
• The referendum results and the Consultative Outcomes be brought to the Papua New Guinea Parliament by the Minister for Bougainville in 2023 in compliance with section 342 of the National Constitution.
Prime Minister James Marape also acknowledged the patience displayed by the people of Bougainville to see the process through.
“I just want to appreciate the patience and understanding of our people in Bougainville.
“You’ve come a long way since 2001. It’s not easy. The road has been tough,” he said.
Marape assured the ABG President, Ismael Toroama that the next parliament following the election will take carriage of the agreements and see it through.
“Mr President I just want to assure you that the intention we’ve covered in as far as our consultation meetings, follows from my acceptance of the result in Arawa, my consultations with your team in Kokopo, and our clarity of the road map going forward was established in Wabag, as well as the meeting at APEC Haus, culminates in this Era Kone Covenant.
“That is an assurance that we will stick to timeframe that we focused.
“National Parliament will have a handle of this in 2023 and of course going forward,” Marape said.
Vice Minister for Bougainville Affairs Peter Tsiamalili described the covenant signing as a significant step for both Governments towards the process that will go into the 11th house.
“The signing of this important document now streamlines the referendum results and also the consultation and guards the process towards entering the parliament,” he said.
United Nations, who has played a pivotal role in facilitating the consultations and the peace process facilitated the covenant signing and assured their commitment for the process as well.
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