27 Oct 2016

Calls for PNG to lift its game over Bougainville

From , 4:03 pm on 27 October 2016

A former Papua New Guinea cabinet minister says Port Moresby has to do more to help prepare Bougainville for its referendum on independence.

The autonomous region is set to hold a vote in June of 2019.

A former MP for Central Bougainville and the first Minister of Bougainville Affairs, Sam Akoitai, said the National Government must do everything possible to ensure Bougainvilleans have full faith in the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) ahead of the vote, which is the final stage of the Peace Agreement.

Mr Akoitai has prepared a statement for the National Parliament's Bi-Partisan Committee, which met last week on Bougainville, and hopes the MPs will get a better idea of the issues facing Bougainville ahead of the vote.

He told Don Wiseman about his chief concerns.

Arawa, Bougainville

Arawa, Bougainville Photo: RNZI