News 03.2011 28.03.2011 Source: Post-Courier
Govt, ABG aim to sign agreement By GORETHY KENNETH
THE National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government are aiming to sign the Panguna Mine Heads of Agreement by end of November 2011. Bougainville Affairs and Trade Minister, also Regional MP Fidelis Semoso announce recently in Panguna and Arawa during his meetings with rebel hardliners that he plans to have responsible authorities sign the Panguna Heads of Agreement by November 2011. ABG vice president Patrick Nisira also told the Post Courier it is possible to sign the HOA in November and if that is the plan by the National Government, ABG is in full support and would work together to implement it. Nisira was speaking at the reconciliation ceremony between ABG president John Momis and the representatives from the Panguna landowners in Buka last Friday. The HOA is part of the four steps agreed during the recent Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting, and is the last of the four to set the pace for the beginning of the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement. The steps include social mapping, environmental impact study, baseline survey and eventually the HOA. “I want the Heads of Agreement by November 2011. By doing this, it basically means we can now begin the Bougainville Copper Agreement review,” Mr Semoso said in Arawa. “Basically the issue means that we will commence the review of the Bougainville Copper Agreement once the HOA is signed....the heads of agreement will decide...it’s like a playing field. It will decide what is inside and what is outside. “Bougainville, we are not like other provinces, Bougainville we have a time limit, we don’t have the time anymore. We don’t have time to waste. “As the National Minister responsible I want to make sure we get the heads of agreement signed by November 2011. “The National Government is fully committed and I want to see the HOA fully complied with. “I believe all these things can be done in three months but only if the responsible authorities like the ABG, National Government and basically the PNG and Bougainville Mining Divisions work together to make this happen. “I am sure if we all work together we can actually achieve this ... That’s an issue I want to discuss with Ishmael (Toroama), Chris (Uma) and Moses Pipiro. “I am now issuing a challenge to the ABG, and specifically the Department of Geohazard and Mining plus the Mining Division in Bougainville to progress the resolution. “The onus is now on the technocrats with the drive from the responsible leadership. “The people of Bougainville don’t need an open ended negotiations. The process of the review is very important and the people need to be fully informed on what is happening. I am more concerned about the review and focus on when the first gold will be produced,” he said. |