Photo: photka/123RF
The Bougainville electoral commissioner says he now has funds to hold three by-elections for the region's parliament.
One of the seats has been vacant since 2016.
Commissioner George Manu says he wants to assure the people in the Halia, Taonita Teop and Kongara constituencies that his office is now doing final preparations for by-elections.
The Taonita Teop constituency has been vacant since the death of MP Raopos Apou Tepaia in 2016.
The Halia and Kongara constituencies have been vacant since resignations by their respective MPs early last year, when they both chose to contest the Papua New Guinea national election.
Mr Manu says his office, up to now, has not had the funds to conduct the vote, but after the chiefs of Taonita Teop petitioned the ABG this month, money has been made available.