Lupari, Nobetau agree to use K12mil to get rid of weapons in B’ville

The National National

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
National government Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari and his Bougainville counterpart Joseph Nobetau have agreed to a K12 million Government funding to get rid of all weapons on Bougainville.
In a joint statement, both secretaries said the endorsement of the progress of the four-phase weapons disposal plan and funding support of K12 million for the next three years be affirmed, with a commitment that K7 million be provided this year.
This is one of the recommendations Included in the 39 recommendations for the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and ABG President John Momis to discuss in the joint supervisory body (JSB) meeting in Arawa on June 28 – 29.
Also included in the recommendations for the leaders’ consideration were:

  • Formally endorse Bertie Ahern, international peace-builder and former President of Ireland as the chair of the Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) and invite him to attend the meeting of the JSB in Arawa this month;
  • That ABG members of the BRC Patrick Nisira and Ruby Mirinka be noted and the national government members of the BRC be finalised before the meeting of the JSB;
    Establishment of funding of K20 million be transferred to a formally endorsed BRC trust account;
  • The full commission meet no later than 14 days after the JSB;
  • Officials meet to review legal arrangements related to the Organic Law and the need for possible amendments, including constitutional regulations and associated legal matters to give effect to the operational conduct of the referendum;
  • Leaders formally consider questions to be put at the referendum, including the use of symbols and direct BRC to test the questions and ballot paper to ensure it is understood by the people;
  • Develop agreed process for post-referendum transition;
  • The two chief secretaries meet to examine means through which disbursement of outstanding K437 million could be made;
  • That the ABG prepare an expenditure plan for K135 million be financed by the national government this year; and
  • Endorse arrangement for the second autonomy review, which is expected to be finalised by the end of October.