Ministry to manage Bougainville politics

 PATRICK Nisira says the ministry of Peace-Building, Referendum and Veteran Affairs, which he heads, will manage the internal, national and international politics of Bougainville.

Introducing his ministry to the Bougainville House of Representatives last Wednesday, Nisira said the ministry would deliver political processes and outcomes for Bougainville through peace-building, reconciliation and by managing veteran affairs.

“I am fully aware of the challenges ahead of us in my ministry. Since politics is influenced by perceptions, feelings and ideas, it is one very difficult aspect of any human society because no two humans feel, perceive and reason identically the same,” he said.

Nisira thanked the Bougainville Executive Council for combining the peace and reconciliation, Bougainville referendum and veteran affairs offices into one department,

He welcomed the appointment of former president James Tanis as the acting Secretary of the department. 

“My department must be given the priority in human and financial resource as the referendum is going to be a major political activity and if not properly resourced and managed, can pose serious risks to the Bougainville peace process and the referendum,” Nisira said.