By AUGUSTINE KINNA
PARENT of Bismarck Teachers College (BTC) and Bougainvillean prisoners at the Kerevat jail in East New Britain have petitioned the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) President Joseph Kabui to look into their concerns.
A petition was signed by 44 parents of the BTC campus in Buka calling on the President to remove several officers and a government minister.
The parents in the petition have demanded that the chief executive officer for education Bruno Babato be replaced immediately for his disregard of a presidential directive to allow students to do their practical in schools and for threatening to stop Grade 8 examination papers reaching schools, for not allowing trainees in doing their practicals and to stop paymensts for headmasters of schools that allow Bismarck students do their practicum.
They are also calling on the President to remove Anthony Tsora from his position of district executive manger for Selau-Suir, acting chief administrator Raymond Masono and Minister for Education Michael Otoroa from his portfolio.
The reasons for their call to remove the minister, acting administrator and district executive manager for Selau-Suir were unknown but the parents believed they were working in collaboration with Mr Babato in suppressing the work and development of Bismarck College.
Mr Kabui in response said this was a very serous matter that had to be treated with all fairness.
Meanwhile, Bougainvilleans serving their jail term at Kerevat have asked the President to assist them to come home and serve their terms in Buka.
Spokesman for the prisoners Enmest Sagoh told Mr Kabui that they wanedt to return home and be closer to their families to complete their jail terms.
Sagoh revealed to Mr Kabui, who visited them in jail that Bougainvillean prisoners wanted to use their skills back home such as rice farming, carpentry, poultry, piggery, cocoa and coconut farming.
He added that as Bougainville inmates in Kerevat they were very interested to home and help in the construction of the new Correctional Institute facility at Bekut.
In response, Mr Kabui said he would seriously look at the prisoners request and would take it up with parliament.
Correctional officers at Kerevat confirmed that all Bougainville inmates were low risk prisoners and could be allowed to spend weekends with their families at home.