Caption: PM Peter O’Neill.
By MATTHEW VARI
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
He made the comments when speaking at the opening at the newly reopened Aropa Airport in Kieta, Bougainville on Friday, in response to concerned raised by the autonomous region’s President, John Momis.
The PM paid tribute to the leaders of the past from both sides; thanking them for the role they have played to bringing the country forward since the crisis.
He, however, confessed that the national government had lost its focus on Bougainville, something he said they had refocused on in the past two years.
“Somewhere along the line we lost our focus and for that I say sorry- but for the last two years, the president and the people of this region know that we have a renewed commitment of the government to making sure that we live up to the commitments we have made to Bougainville,” Mr O’Neill said.
“When we took office we maintained this approach that we must re-engage with Bougainville, there is no other reason.”
“I want to thank all those leaders, and we must work together to honor these leaders and we as the national government will honor that peace agreement and there has not been a single person that has said that we will change it.”
He said that every provision, every word in that peace agreement will be honored, that is the stance of the government we stand on.
“I already said in Panguna and Arawa that I did not one to talk about referendum, independence, and not about the reopening of Panguna Mine,” the PM pointed out.
“Those kinds of talk will still be said around the place but we must learn to trust what we say in public, and trust must take place among our governments to make sure that our priority is the welfare of the people.”
“All the issues of infrastructure and roads are the work of the government and must be put first, not other talk because its time will come.”
He told them that a lot of infrastructure needs remained for Bougainville, assuring them that the government has a strong commitment to finish those works.
I appeal to all the leaders to put aside all the talk that stem from self interest of individuals- it does not mean that that is the interest of the government or of that of the people.
Our interest is to look after the welfare for all in Bougainville.
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