Big step of faith in B’ville, says Clyne

THE opening of Bank South Pacific’s Arawa branch is a big step of faith in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and especially the Central and South parts of the island.
“It is a sign of confidence in your future,” bank chief executive officer Ian Clyne told local leaders, school children, political, business leaders and villagers.
Clyne was at Arawa to open the bank’s branch – the bank’s 40th.
BSP also has rural agencies at Buin and Wakunai in this part of Bougainville.
Clyne said they were happy to reopen in Arawa after closing its operations at the height of the Bougainville crisis 23 years ago.
He said branch opening came after feasibility studies done in 2010. 
Clyne said preparations for the opening also involved “frank and open” discussions between the bank management and Bougainville leaders.
Central Bougainville MP and Minister for Information and Communication Jimmy Miringtoro also played a large role  in the opening of the bank branch.
Central Bougainville regional commissioner James Koibo and Arawa landowner leader Theresa Jaintong were among leaders who reassured Clyne and his senior management team that Bougainvilleans would ensure the bank property and staff would be respected and taken care of.
They told the people gathered that the bank would only be safekeeping their money.
Clyne also said BSP was happy to provide services to the people but would pull out again if it was forced to.

ABG agriculture minister Nicholas Darku said Bougainville’s agriculture-based economy would see an expansion in the next few years and BSP’s presence on the island would help in that growth.
Jaintong welcomed the opening of the bank branch and pointed the need for investors to consult landowners if they were considering setting up shop in Arawa.
BSP’s Arawa branch – four modified shipping containers – is situated within the Arawa police station.

“We will make land available if you decide to move out from the police station,” Jaintong told Clyne and his staff.
The branch is headed by Patrick Buibui and has eight staff, all local Bougainvilleans trained in the bank’s Buka branch.