MP wants Bougainville peace deal implemented

Islands, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 04th September 2012

By ROBSON AKIS
REGIONAL member for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) Joseph Lera wants to ensure the Bougainville Peace Agreement signed by the PNG government in 2001 is fully implemented.
Lera would like to see MPs from the region working with the leaders of the Bougainville government to implement the agreement in preparation for the referendum in 2015.
Lera said the referendum might be three years away from Bougainville determining its own future and it was important for political leaders from the region to advance the peace agreement.
He said the choice made during the referendum would determine whether Bougainville remained as part of Papua New Guinea or became a separate nation.
“In order for Bougainvilleans to make informed choices for their destiny, the leaders must stand united on a common platform for service delivery to the people of Bougainville,” Lera said.
“I want to see that the ABG meetings are well attended by national MPs.”
Lera said he would employ a bottom up strategic plan to launch his political programmes starting with a 100 day activity plan to present his maiden speech in the national parliament and the House of Representatives in Buka.
This would be followed by a series of meetings with its three open MPs and ABG members to outline their areas of responsibility.
Other activities would include meetings and negotiations with development partners to identify and establish high-impact projects in each of the three electorates in Bougainville.
Lera also plans to establish a trade skills scholarship scheme for Bougainvilleans seeking to enhance their technical skills.