MPs to undergo exercise in preparation for referendum

BOUGAINVILLE Affairs Minister Sir Puka Temu says the Government has engaged the United Nations to help with the ratification process of the Bougainville Referendum.
Sir Puka, in response to questions by Rabaul MP Dr Allan Marat on the Bougainville Referendum, said all MPs would be undertaking a ratification process in Parliament during its November sitting.
“Every Member of Parliament, both in Opposition and Government, will undertake the exercise of how we go through the ratification process in Parliament,” he said.
“At this stage, what we are managing this issue through the Bougainville post referendum ministerial task force co-chaired by myself and my counterpart from Bougainville.
“We are now preparing the post referendum consultations.”
Sir Puka said once the results were announced and the process was cleared in the law then the National Government and Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) would to start organising themselves on their own negotiating teams.
“We will establish our negotiating teams made up of people with a high level of credibility, status and seniority and ABG will do the same.
“During the important process post referendum the fourth ABG election will take place,” he said.
Sir Puka said the writs would be issued on March 27 next year and the new ABG government would come in June.
He said after the writs were returned, 40 days would be allowed to address disputes and then in February, the ABG leaders would start preparations for the elections.