MP: B’ville funds for projects, not salaries

 MINISTER for Bougainville Affairs Steven Kamma said the four MPs from Bougainville recognise Bougainville as part of an independent state of PNG.

MP for Komo-Margarima Francis Potape wanted to know why there was constant attack on the national government in parliament by the Bougainville government over a lack of funding, with reference to the Bougainville restoration agreement.

 Kamma said the reason for the criticism led by Bougainville President John Momis was due to the national government’s failure or refusal to acquit public funds.

He said the K100 million allocation to the ABG was public funds.

“I spoke to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and said not to release any funds until AGB furnishes the reports,” Kamma said.

“The funds are specifically for impact projects under the agreement and not for recurrent purposes. The funds have been used for recurrent and salaries – that is not right,” he said.

Vice-Minister for Inter-government relations Joe Sungi wanted to know how the issue could be resolved.

Kamma said the way ahead was to put the money into a trust account and address issues.

He said other options would be to involve the four MPs in the budgetary and planning of impact projects for Bougainville to achieve results.

He said so far the only impact projects in the area had been facilitated by the MPs using the district service improvement programme funds and provincial service improvement programme funds.

He said a committee should be established and the MPs included in it.