020414BOUGAINVILLE PUBLIC SERVICE APPROVED By Aloysius Laukai The Autonomous Bougainville Government has strengthened Autonomy Implementation by finally enacting the Bougainville Public Service Management and Administrative Bill 2014 into Law after meeting the constitutional requirement by passing the bill and getting through three readings and approving by a 100 percent majority members after a lengthy and heated debate since yesterday. The Bougainville Public Service law now paves the way for the setting up of the Bougainville Public Service which also will align all public service functions to meet the expectations of the ABG Government and also the people of Bougainville. The new law will make some changes on the reporting system from the elevated Chief Administrator and now Chief Secretary to the President and the BEC. Under this new arrangement the ABG Minister for Public Service will become the Minister for administrative services. Speaking to reporters after the passing of the bill, ABG Acting President, Vice President, PATRICK NISIRA said that from today Bougainville will have its own Public Service that will be responsible to the political masters of Bougainville. He said in the past co-operation between the Administration and the ABG Ministers was non- existent as they were reporting to the Administrator who was also reporting to Waigani. MR. NISIRA said that it has taken so long to come to today and the people of Bougainville have something to celebrate. On the other two Bills that also became law today, MR. NISIRA said that without the Public Service Management and Administrative law there would be no Public Finance Management and Administration act and No Bougainville Contracts act as these laws are interconnected. He reiterated his earlier call for the recruitment team to make sure they recruit from the Universities and not Retirees, who have burnt their energies and trying to return to Bougainville. The Minister said that Bougainville needs energetic and qualified people who can now move Bougainville forward into the future. These laws will become effective at a date to be set by the President most probably 15 May 2014 when administrative arrangements are completed. These are the most important laws passed in and for Bougainville since the Constitutional Laws in 2002 and 2005. |