PRESIDENT of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Ishmael Toroama cast his vote on Wednesday, Jan 20 at Petatz Island for the Bougainville Regional Seat By-Elections.
The president was joined by members of his cabinet and senior members of the Bougainville Public Service at the island for the Bougainville Executive Council Meeting who also cast their votes which was facilitated by the PNG Electoral Commission.
After casting his vote president Toroama said it was a momentous event for Bougainville in electing its representative in the National Parliament.
“I urge Bougainvilleans to vote for a leader who will work with the Autonomous Bougainville Government and with me as your president.
“We must not vote for a leader who isolates themselves and does not want to cooperate with the ABG which is the legitimate political authority on the ground,” president Toroama said.
He added that his main concern was effective service delivery to the people and that co-operation with the four National MP’s of Bougainville could help to alleviate a lot of development challenges in the region.
“The person that Bougainville elects as our Regional Member must also be the voice of the people of Bougainville in the national parliament,” he said.
President Toroama said whoever is elected must always remember the political independence aspirations of Bougainville and feverishly work towards achieving the objective in light of the ratification of the Bougainville Referendum results by the National Parliament.
From past experience the ABG has had a tumultuous relationship with Bougainville’s four National MP’s over the years.
President Toroama said that he is willing to put that behind the ABG and work on fostering cordial relations with the National MP’s to encourage unity amongst Bougainville’s leaders before Bougainville becomes independent.
