"...so far the Prime Minister has not yet responded to my request...”
Islands Post
§ Wednesday 08th December, 2010
Momis clarifies meeting report
By Peterson tseraha
Autonomous Bougainville Government President John Momis said yesterday he welcomed a meeting last week by landowner representatives from the six mine lease areas of the Panguna mine. “I welcome the meeting of the landowner representatives. At the same time I must clarify some issues that have been mis-reported since the landowner meeting.” “It has been reported that this was the first time in six years that all six mine lease holders have met, this claim is totally untrue.” “In fact the Bougainville administration has organised several meetings of landowner representatives from all six lease areas. “The meetings began in 2009, and have continued in 2010, with large meetings held at Panguna in March and July.” Mr Momis said these meetings were held at the direction of the ABG to consult landowner communities about organising themselves to be effectively represented in the process of reviewing the Bougainville Copper Agreement. “The first formal step in the process to review the copper agreement has also been taken by the ABG,” Mr Momis said. “That was in a letter I sent to Prime Minister Somare, formally requesting the national Government to initiate the review process, so far the Prime Minister has not yet responded to my request.” Mr Momis said in spite of the silence by the national government, the ABG has continued to work to prepare for the review process. That is why the ABG has directed the Bougainville administration to organise the landowners so that they are represented in the review process. “As a result of meetings organised by the Bougainville administration, the people in each of the six mine lease areas decided many months ago that they wanted separate associations, one to represent each lease area,” Mr Momis said. “They also agreed to consult amongst themselves on the structures of each of the proposed associations. “Bougainville administration lawyers have held two rounds of consultations with communities, which had resulted in the preparation of draft constitutions for each proposed association. As a result the work of preparing to establish the six associations is almost complete.” |