BOUGAINVILLE REFERENDUM RESULTS DEBATE COMMENCES IN PARLIAMENT TODAY

BY NIGEL MADO

THE Parliament today have commenced to debate the 2019 Autonomous Region of Bougainville Referendum results, the Melanesian Framework and the Joint Consultation report.

Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Manaseh Makiba opened the debate stating that the house will commen their debate before a vote will be taken to decide the future of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, adding that this is an important opportunity for members of Parliament to consider the history, constitutional framework, the expressed wishes of the people of Bougainville and the potential implications that the house is being asked to make.

He re-emphasized that according to the constitution, the vote would require three quarters majority of the House to and will be considered a substantive Parliamentary and Constitutional Decision.

Minister Makiba urged members of Parliament to not take this process lightly as this would determine the future of collective of people from a part of the country. He also stated that they have already voted and Parliament must hold in high regard the decision that was made for the people during the path of a Constitutional question of profound national significance.

Adding that the majority of the people of Bougainville chose independence, and that this result must be understood in light of the questions that they were asked.