PNG needs to ‘pull its weight’ over Bougainville vote, says Momis

By RNZ Pacific

The President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville has raised concerns that the Papua New Guinea Government is not pulling its weight as the region prepares for its referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea next year.

Two weeks ago John Momis met with PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in a meeting of the Joint Supervisory Board tasked with preparing for the vote.

However, outstanding financial commitments of hundreds of millions of kina which the PNG state owes to the Autonomous Bougainville Government remain an obstacle to preparations.

LISTEN: Momis speaking on Dateline Pacific

After a long wait, PNG finally made a payment of $US1.49 million to Bougainville last week, but then the cheque bounced.

Momis said in an interview with RNZ Pacific’s Dateline Pacific programme Port Moresby was continually failing to deliver on commitments and he was considering approaching the United Nations, New Zealand or Australia for advice.

The Pacific Media Centre has a content sharing partnership with RNZ Pacific.