Review finds failings in B’ville deal

By ELIZABETH MIAE
A REVIEW on the Bougainville Peace Agreement has revealed significant failings by the Government and Autonomous Bougainville Government to implement its recommendations.
The peace agreement was signed in Arawa between the two governments in 2001 and was given legal effect in 2002 through the Organic Law on Peace-Building in Bougainville-Autonomous Bougainville Government-Bougainville Referendum.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill revealed this in Parliament yesterday when he presented a statement on his goodwill visit to the region last month.
He told the House that every five years, both governments were required to commission an independent review of the implementation of the peace agreement.
“Last year, the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government commissioned that review and the review is now complete,” he said.
“The review found that there have been significant failings on both sides, we have not done enough to implement the agreement.”
He said what occurred in Bougainville was a terrible tragedy but it was now time to rebuild.
“My visit was an assurance to the people of Bougainville that the Government is firmly committed to fully implementing the peace agreement and returning normalcy to their lives.”
The government’s priorities for Bougainville this year are the:
Sealing of the Kokopau to Buin road;
re-opening Aropa airport;
rehabilitating the Buka Island ring road;
restoration of the water and sewerage system for Arawa and Buka;
restoration of Kieta wharf;
rehabilitation of bridges on the South and West roads; and,
Restoration of Radio Bougainville.
He said the ABG had a lot of hard work ahead of itself. However with the imminent passage of the Bougainvillean Public Service Act and with support from national departments, the Bougainville public service was slowly being re-built.