B’ville grant oversight in Budget to be redressed
Bougainville President John Momis has commended Prime Minister Peter O’Neill for the leadership he has shown in seeking to address discrepancies in the 2019 National Budget.
Speaking in Port Moresby following their meeting, Mr Momis (pictured) said he welcomed advise from Mr O’Neill that the absence of the Restoration and Development Grant from the budget was an administrative error.
“I thank the Prime Minister for meeting with me and agreeing to rectify the absence of the grant from the 2019 National budget,” Mr Momis said.
“I take the Prime Minister at his word that this was an administrative oversight will be fixed.”
The 2019 National Budget saw a cut to recurrent funding for the ABG, along with the absence of the development grant.
The grant is Constitutionally-guaranteed for the purpose of restorative infrastructure and service delivery in the region.
“The ABG relies on the RDG for essential projects,” Mr Momis said.
“When we met last December, Mr O’Neill undertook to address budgetary shortfalls with the provision of K437 million to be paid through grants and funding to National Government contracts.
“On the basis of the government’s commitment to pay K135 million to the ABG in the 2018 and 2019 budget, the ABG entered into contracts for major infrastructure projects.
“A failure by the National Government to fund these commitments will reflect badly on both governments,” he said.
The Bougainville Peace Agreement contains clear provisions which are reflected in the Constitution regarding funding arrangements and grants.
Bougainville’s development grants, which represents a significant part of the Government’s budgetary support to the region, is needed for critical projects essential to service delivery and support.
“2019 will be a critical year for both Bougainville and the National Government,” Mr Momis said.
“With the referendum on Bougainville’s long-term political future scheduled for next June, we must ensure that we provide the funding and support needed to allow the referendum to take place and for peace restoration to continue.”
He said he was pleased that Mr O’Neill had undertaken to address a K14 million funding shortfall for the referendum and a K12 million shortfall for weapons disposal initiatives.
Mr Momis said that as a joint agreement, both governments had an obligation to the Bougainville people to ensure the agreement was implemented to the letter.
He said that Bougainville Treasury and Finance Minister Robin Wilson would be travelling to Port Moresby for meetings with his counterpart to address these issues.
“I trust that Mr Wilson will be able to find a solution to this issue.”
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