Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama has reaffirmed his government’s push for political and economic independence, declaring that “Bougainvilleans will always stand as one people and that is Independence.”
Delivering his inaugural statement for the Fifth Bougainville House of Representatives, Toroama thanked the people for their confidence in his leadership and vowed to accelerate progress toward nationhood, economic self-reliance, and good governance.
“It is indeed my honour to address you upon my return for a second term as President,” he said. “May I start by thanking the people of Bougainville for your confidence in my leadership in pursuing our common agendas of independence, economy and good governance.”
He said Bougainville’s independence journey was “very clear,” adding that the region had already voted for it under Part 14 of the PNG Constitution.
“The real question is whether PNG is ready to accept the Bougainville people’s choice,” Toroama said.
He confirmed that Bougainville expected the Melanesian Agreement and the Sessional Order to be the path through which the PNG Parliament would endorse the people’s 97.7 percent vote for independence.
Toroama also announced that his government would enact a constitution for an independent Bougainville within the first 100 days of his presidency.
On economic independence, the President said his administration would prioritise the reopening of the Panguna Mine, now in the exploration stage.
“I have moved Panguna into the exploration stage and my Government is now waiting for BCL to speedily progress to the next phase or tell us if it is unable to operate Panguna,” he said.
“Let me remind the landowners that in Bougainville custom, Panguna now belongs to the whole of Bougainville, secured by the blood of 20,000 lives lost in a war created by the LOs and the mine.”
Toroama also announced that the Bougainville Gold Refinery in Arawa would soon begin operations, producing the region’s own gold bullion to build its sovereign wealth base.
“Our aim is to build our own gold bullion that will be the foundation of our sovereign wealth,” he said. “However, in the long-term Bougainville must have a broad-based economy in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, commerce, finance and banking.”
He said land was central to economic development and his government would explore ways to bring more customary land and plantations into commercial production.
“The private sector must turn a new leaf,” he said. “Currently, the private sector is merely a recipient of government tenders. My challenge for the private sector is to venture into new enterprises and broaden your reach to other areas of Bougainville other than Buka and Arawa.”
Toroama said his government would also push for the transfer of fisheries powers from PNG, describing the sector as “a sleeping giant” that needed to be awakened through foreign investment.
The President emphasised that good governance would be the cornerstone of Bougainville’s nation-building efforts.
“Governance is the foundation of any nation as it is concerned with institutions, systems and processes that regulate the conduct of any nation,” he said. “Good governance is not just talk. We leaders must take the lead in practicing good governance — compliance is absolute.”
Toroama announced plans to introduce a home-grown leadership training manual that integrates Bougainville’s history, culture, and Christian values.
He said the region’s education system would be overhauled to focus on practical skills and local history.
“Gender equality needs to be pursued in a way that fits with our Bougainville Christian values and not the western values of women’s rights,” he said.
“Countries that have taught us Christianity have decayed with same sex marriages. This is against nature and against our Christian heritage and is therefore a big taboo in Bougainville.”
He also called for performance-based accountability in the public service and stronger laws to protect Bougainville’s traditional knowledge and intellectual property.
“The measure of success of your work will be judged in the improvements of people’s livelihood and standard of living not by the number of trips you make to Waigani,” Toroama warned public servants.
Toroama also announced the launch of a Bougainville Nation Building Strategy to integrate all government policies, programs and monitoring efforts under the Chief Secretary.
He said the long-term vision was for Bougainville to become “a high-income, educated, healthy, peaceful, Christian sovereign nation” by 2052.
“Hindsight allows you to look back as you move forward,” he said. “It is now 36 years since the beginning of the crisis, 24 years since the Bougainville Peace Agreement, and 20 years since the formation of the ABG. After two decades, we are just now beginning to seriously think about development and transformation.”
“The transformation that I am advocating for under these three agendas is not difficult to achieve with your cooperation,” Toroama said.
“We are on the cusp of establishing a new nation. You, as citizens, are the best security to our nation — your good behaviour as citizens will secure the safety and prosperity of a new Bougainville,” he said.
Toroama outlined a 13-point plan for his first 100 days in office, including:
*Enacting a Constitution for an independent Bougainville.
*Finalising the process for implementing the Melanesian Agreement and tabling the referendum results in PNG Parliament.
*Establishing the Bougainville Nation Building Secretariat.
*Securing a joint venture for Panguna Mine development.
*Starting gold refinery operations in Arawa.
*Reclaiming and redeveloping large plantations.
*Negotiating the transfer of fisheries powers from PNG.
*Establishing Bougainville’s own cocoa export company.
*Developing revenue generation plans for all departments.
*Enforcing performance management for departmental heads.
*Improving tax collection systems.
*Expanding technical and vocational training.
*Strengthening law and order and correctional services.
