Toroama gives time for talks

**President-elect for Bougainville Ishmael Toroama (left) being congratulated by Peter Tsiamalili Jr (right) in Hutjena on Wednesday.**

**People in Hutjena waiting for the declaration of Ishmael Toroama as President-elect for Bougainville on Wednesday.**

THE outcome of the Bougainville Referendum last year reflected the rights and the wishes of the people, says President-elect Ishmael Toroama.
Toroama told The National after his declaration in Buka on Wednesday that it was his job to speak to the PNG Government concerning the outcome of last year’s referendum.
“My time frame is two to three years to implement Bougainville’s independence,” he said.
Under the Bougainville Peace Agreement, a referendum to decide the political future of Bougainville was to be held between 2015 and 2020.
Last November, an overwhelming 98 per cent of Bougainvilleans who took part in the referendum, voted for independence.
The Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) presented the final report of the referendum to Prime Minister James Marape and Bougainville Affairs Minister Sir Puka Temu in June.
The BRC, after presenting the final report, said that from the K27 million given for the referendum, the commission saved K2 million, which was given back to the State.
Following the return of writs, there will be a swearing-in ceremony for Toroama and the caretaker Bougainville executive council.
This ceremony will be administered by Justice Sir Kina Bona of the National and Supreme Court of Justice at Parliament House.