Makiba urges Parliament

Parliament has been urged to carefully balance the wishes of the people of Bougainville with PNG constitutional responsibilities and national interests.

Minister for Bougainville Affairs Manasseh Makiba said this, when opening the debate in parliament, today.

The 2019 Bougainville Referendum has taken center stage in the national parliament.

Minister Makiba opened the debate today, after tabling the 2019 Referendum Results, the Joint Consultation Report and the Melanesian Framework on August 27, last year.

He reminded fellow colleagues that this debate is an important opportunity for them to consider the history, constitutional framework, the wishes of the people of Bougainville and the implications of the decision, that parliament is being asked to make.

Makiba emphasized that the vote requires a three – quarters majority, making it a substantive parliamentary and constitutional decision.

In the 2019 Referendum, 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans voted for independence while 2.3 percent favored autonomy.

The Minister believes Bougainville deserves independence , when the timing is right.