FOLLOWING TWO DAYS of discussions in Port Moresby, Bougainville will receive K500 million from the national government to use in key infrastructure projects over the next five years.

The assistance is targeted at reviving the economy of the autonomous province.

The deal was sealed in an agreement between the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the PNG government which also covers the transfer of several national government powers to Bougainville, including education, health, lands, forests and agriculture.

The K500 million financial package will be paid to Bougainville from 2012 in annual K100 million instalments.

Projects to will include the reopening of the Aropa airport, Arawa hospital, Buka airport and the relocation of the administration headquarters from Buka to Arawa.

Deputy Prime Minister Sam Abal said the agreement signalled a new chapter for PNG and the ABG.

He said the Bougainville people had suffered a lot during the 15-year crisis and the PNG government was doing what it could to restore peace and harmony through the financial package.

Bougainville President John Momis said the meeting was a success. “Today can be described as a cultural paradigm to mutual understanding. If we can manage the cultural momentum, then we can address the challenges faced by Bougainville. The K500 million financial package is welcome news in Bougainville.”

Source: ‘Whooping K500m for Bougainville’ by Jeffrey Elapa, The National, 18 February 2011