PM assures commitment

THE Government remains committed to delivering the 2001 Bougainville Peace Agreement, Prime Minister James Marape says.
Marape said the Government could not change what had happened but it would listen to the people of Bougainville and support them.
“On the eve of the country’s 44th Independence anniversary, there is no greater issue right now than the referendum,” he said.
“We can’t unwind the clock, what happened is now part of our history.
“The legacy of the Bougainville crisis is something that continues to affect our moral consciousness as a nation.
“The loss they felt on that island, no amount of money or words rendered can fully compensate for them.”
“The best we can do now is to find a better solution, a better way by listening to them.”
Marape said trust still remained an issue between Bougainville and the Government which needed to be addressed.
“We can’t bridge that trust in this short period of time so our best shot now is to show them that we are their brothers and they are our brothers.”
Marape said over the years, the government had funded the Autonomous Region of Bougainville but that was not enough to make up for the loss suffered.
He also urged the Parliament to choose their words wisely so that the wrong message was not sent and unity was maintained.
“We have to find the right balance.
“The right answers for them and give them the opportunity to decide for themselves their future.
“It will require greater wisdom and knowledge from both sides.
“Like the governor of East Sepik (Allan Bird) said, if you want to give something, you give it with no strings attached,” he said.