PORT MORESBY, 19 FEBRUARY 2020 (POST COURIER) – The Papua New Guinea government must honour all commitment made to Bougainville and make it its business to help the leaders and their government on the island to achieve what they had fought for.
William Samb, who is now Transport Minister in the Marape government, said his experience as the former Bougainville Affairs Minister was not a good one as help from national government to Bougainville had not been standard.
“My experience here is this, when we talk on one thing, and I challenge Planning, Works Department, Treasury, and Finance you listen. All your secretaries; secretary for Works, Planning, Treasury, and Finance,” Samb said. “Money, they budgeted for Bougainville, don’t misuse it. I remember a decision we made to get K10 million (US$2.9 million). It took us running around a lot of place. I have to go and sit in the Planning Office to get the money.
“I don’t want to deal on the negatives but I challenge our government, our Prime Minister that whatever is due for Bougainville has to be given. Not necessarily have to be on hold but, if it’s coming in portions on regular basis, people will be happy.
“I don’t need to do that. I am challenging all the ministers and their secretaries to make sure whatever things that is due for Bougainville must come and go to them.
“Bougainville is not like Goilala. In Arawa, I told them, when you come to Goilala, you will literally cry. They have everything there. There is no excuse. Plantations are already there, all the resources there. We just need to support. My last challenge is that, I mentioned it here on the floor of Parliament it’s recorded. ABG, Members of Bougainville, please let our people and the government knows as well.
“My experience there was that, people frustrated because of lack of government preference. So hopefully these wages get to the ABG government and whatever the government get that are given to you, please! it is not our savings account, spend it but report back. There are reports done by the World Bank the performance of the peace agreement and lots of things they talk about are these areas. Minister, we have to address these issues with our counterparts in Bougainville and address to these issues forward.”
