BOUGAINVILLE chief secretary Kearnneth Nanei says Bougainville is at a critical time of its political journey to independence.
“We are now focused on the post referendum process following after the 2019 referendum commencing consultation with the national government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government,” Nanei said.
This week, a second consultation between the national government and ABG will be held centred around the Melanesian framework.
In its first consultation held in March (last month), the national government had given a positive response to the future of Bougainville, where from Sept 1 next year, and onwards, Bougainville should begin to exercise its executive powers.
“This will go into the Melanesian framework for both governments to sign off before the national government presents it to the Parliament for ratification.
“That is why this period is critical for Bougainville, unlike the national government working towards General Elections 2027 or other services,” he said.
On June 26 last year, PNG and ABG signed the Melanesian agreement in Port Moresby following negotiations at the Burnham military camp in New Zealand.
The agreement serves as a framework to handle the 2019 referendum results and outlines a constitutional pathway for Bougainville’s political future.
The agreement was signed by Prime Minister James Marape and ABG president Ishmael Toroama and is a framework to deliver the referendum results to the 11th National Parliament through sessional orders.
Both governments aim to finalise actions tied to this agreement by June 2026.
“As we go into the aspirations for independence, Bougainville must stand together as when majority voted for independence in 2019 where the results were 97.7 per cent,” Nanei said.
