Buka council swears in board

By STEPHANIE ELIZAH
THE Buka Urban Council has sworn in its new board members for the next five years.
The board, representing Buka Urban wards, business houses, youth and Buka town traditional landowner clans, was sworn in by Buka District Court senior magistrate Patrick Toli­ken this week.
The board members are Timothy Gaemate, who represents Hutjena ward, representative of Kubu-Hahela ward Silvester Niu, Willie Rema for Buka town ward, Raka Benson for Sohano, Hillary Tsunono for Kokopau, leta-Naboen clan representative Aloysius Sohaga and Leta Nakaripa clan representative Donatus Kokopau, leta-Naboen clan representative Donatus Ganiu.
Other members include employee representative Julius Longa, chairman and business representative John Angamata and youth representative Chris Wayen.
The board is yet to fill the vacant seats for women and church representative.
Re-elected chairman Angamata said they expected another challenging year as they settled into their role.
He said they had major plans to develop Buka town, which was the central business hub of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ABG).
He called on the ABG to help with funding to ensure the council implemented its plans.
Angamata said such plans included building of three public toilets, sealing of the Buka town road, building the town’s water and sewerage system and initiating the Buka town expansion programme.
He said the major issue facing the town council was the availability of vacant land as 97% of land in Buka town “is customary and owned by the leta clans in Buka”.
He hopes that with continuous dialogue and awareness, the landowners will agree to release a portion of land for the establishment of industrial and residential zones.
ABG minister for local level government, traditional authority and communications Joseph Nopei reminded the board of ABG’s 2012 budget allocation of K2 million to the council for the sealing of town roads.
Nopei urged the board members to use the money wisely for the benefit of the people of Bougainville.
Buka Urban Council town manageress Brenda Tohiana said the council would work in close consultation with its recently elected board members and ABG politicians.
She said the council needed leaders who would push development.
She urged the 10 elected board members to take their roles and responsibilities seriously.
Tohiana urged the board to take pride in their role and help keep Buka town safe, clean and hospitable for residents and visitors.