Bougainville mulls legal action against PNG over unpaid funds
22 June 2015
KEITH JACKSON
JUST re-elected Bougainville president John Momis has indicated he is likely to take action if the Papua New Guinea government does not remit unpaid development grants of nearly K400 million.
The autonomous province has been pursuing the payment of the Restoration and Development Grants for many years, with only a trickle of funds being made.
The money is guaranteed under the Bougainville Peace Agreement which was put in place to bring to a close the bloody ten year civil war.
Dr Momis said that funds are constitutionally guaranteed and are vital for the economic development of the province.
He told Radio New Zealand International that Bougainville may seek arbitration if the PNG government continues to ignore its obligations.
"We will raise it again and if our request falls on deaf ears,” Dr Momis said.
“We will have no choice but to go for arbitration, because that is the next step that is recommended in the Bougainville Peace Agreement."
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