Pacific

Call to address long neglected basic services in Bougainville

05:01 am on 18 September 2019

An educationalist from Bougainville says new funding pledged by the Papua New Guinea government should be used to improve basic services.

Last week, PNG's prime minister James Marape announced approval of the $US287 million funding facility to build Bougainville's economy over ten years

Mr Marape made the announcement while taking his cabinet on an historic visit to Bougainville, ahead of its independence referendum later this year. 

An education consultant from Bougainville, Rachael Konaka, spoke to Johnny Blades about how she feels the funding would be best used.

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A crowd of people in Bougainville watching the handover of the agreed definitions for the two questions for the Independence Referendum. The first Greater Autonomy for Bougainville and the other full Independence from Papua New Guinea. Photo: Autonomous Bougainville Government