Is Bougainville ready to be independent?

INDEPENDENCE is not always achieved on a golden plate.
Bougainville’s sister province on the western half of New Guinea has experienced some of the most brutal bloodshed in the region’s history.
West Papua fought and has lost many lives for its independence from Indonesia.
Bougainville received autonomy from Papua New Guinea with the aim of attaining independence, which is now half-a-decade away.
The decentralisation of powers from Waigani to Bougainville aids their preparation for self-government.
Having been a key commander in the Bougainville crisis, President Ishmael Toroama is a happy man, especially with the outcome of the recent Wabag meeting.
The PNG Constitution does not have provisions for a case such as Bougainville’s.
The recent meeting between Prime Minister James Marape and Toroama concluded in proper negotiations for independence.
Much has been agreed on Bougainville’s request for independence, however, Bougainville’s eligibility for independence is questionable.
We can say and it is a matter of reality that there is hardly any higher learning institution in Bougainville.
There is no workforce to run the affairs of a new nation.
Bougainville needs more lawyers to occupy the judiciary arm of the government.
It needs more medical experts in the health sector and more economists to manage the central bank and advice the leaders on how to grow the nation’s economy.
More environmental scientists and climate experts are needed to support the nation’s position to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
If Bougainville lacks human resources, I believe attaining independence earlier than it should would be a big mistake.

Justin Max Undi