Bougainville assuming powers, functions

THE Government is in the process of transferring powers and functions that it can to the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), Parliament was told yesterday.
Bougainville Minister Manasseh Makiba told the House the prime minister had committed K1 billion additional support to Bougainville over 10 years at K100 million per year.
Transferred so far are powers and functions in relation to mining, physical planning, education, health, local level governments, arts, fisheries, time zone, and public holidays.
Those pertaining to public service, police, and village courts are partially drawn down.
All others are available as and when the ABG is ready for them.
In addition, the Government has transferred 36.47 per cent of State equity in Bougainville Copper Ltd to the ABG free of charge.
The sharing of GST revenue was increased to 70/30 in favour of Bougainville.
Makiba said all state land in Bougainville, including land and properties owned by the National Housing Corporation and all agriculture leases have been transferred to the ABG.
The National Fisheries Authority entered into agreement with the ABG wherein K5 million per annum is paid as revenue sharing for the harvesting of fisheries and marine resources.
Makiba said the Government now only retains those exclusive national functions such as foreign affairs, customs, immigration, defence, international civil aviation, central bank and currency, quarantine, telecommunications, foreign trade and investment and highly migratory and straddling fish stocks.
He said all conditions precedent to the Bougainville Peace Process had been completed and all that remained was for Parliament to conclude the process with the ratification of the Bougainville referendum vote.