Ahern agrees to head post referendum negotiations

From left: Prime Minister James Marape, Lae MP John Rosso and Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama at the Sir Manasupe Haus during the pre-Joint Consultative Body meeting in Port Moresby. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI.

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
FORMER chairman of the Bouganville Referendum Commission Bertie Ahern has agreed to be the moderator on post referendum consultations between the Bouganville and Papua New Guinea governments.
Prime Minister James Marape and Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama announced the decision during a meeting in Port Moreby yesterday.
The Joint Consultative Body meeting will be held in Kokopo on Nov 30.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, Ahern would join by Zoom but would be assisted by the United Nations mission in the country.
The JCB meeting in Kokopo would focus on addressing discussions on post referendum joint inter-government consultation process framework, financial issues, Bougainville economic and investment summit, tax initiatives, fisheries matters, transfer of Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) shares to the Autonomous Bougainville Government, small to medium enterprise (SME) funding, transfer of powers and functions matters, national elections outstanding of K5 million (2012-2017), by-election for the Bougainville regional seat and foreign missions in Bougainville.
“We have agreed on Bertie Ahern to continue,” Marape said.
“We thank Mr Ahern for volunteering his time and agreeing to be the moderator going forward between the two governments,” he said.