By ANTHONY KAYBING DWU Journalism student
REPRESENTATIVES from the World Bank visited the Autonomous Region of Bougainville last week to hold discussions with the Bougainville people and their leaders regarding problems associated with mining in the region.
Social Development Specialist with the World Bank Gillian Brown had a session with the women of Bougainville at Buka General Hospital conference room.
Ms Brown asked the women their views on the mining sector and the problems associated with it as well as ways of making their voice more audible in decision-making regarding the mining sector.
Josephine Harepa, who is attached to the United Nations office in Arawa, said that there were no plans for the women of Bougainville.
“There needs to be a plan for women in Bougainville regarding decision-making in the mining sector and decisions for the welfare of the Bougainville people,” Mrs Harepa said.
Deputy speaker of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Francesca Semoso supported Mrs Harepa stating that the women of Bougainville were left out of conferences in addressing the problems associated with the mining sector.
“Women must always be included in the decision-making in Bougainville,” Ms Semoso said.
Anita Salas, who represented the women from Central Bougainville and Panguna area, said that the women and children of landowners never received any benefits from the mine.
Mrs Salas added that most women in the region bore the brunt of the crisis for which its root causes being the mine.
She also said that Bougainville women were enterprising and appealed to Ms Brown for help through the World Bank to source funding in assisting them to kick start projects.
Minister for Women’s Affairs Magdalene Toroansi said they had problems with transportation, telecommunications, health and education and guns which was still a very big issue.
Ms Toroansi made a proposal to Ms Brown if funds could be made available so they could be used to buy guns from the locals and destroy them.
“These guns can then be destroyed since the arms disposal has not proved reliable,” Ms Toroansi said.
Ms Brown said the World Bank is owned by every country in the world and that Bougainville was eligible for funding.