Bougainville is located in the South Pacific and is an merging new republic under the aegis of the United Nations with an estimated population of 300,000 and its youth population is its major strength in its march foreword. With developmental dynamism. There are 3 districts in the nation—North Bournville; Central Bournville and South Bourneville. While north got some 40 per cent of the population, the centre got 35 per cent and the south got 25 percent.
It is long stetch of land mass with 120 km length and its width may be varying from 60 to 95 km with population density of 19 persons per sq km.
70 to 75 percent of the population follow Catholicism followed by the United Church and some Pentecostal believers. It is worth mention that there is great amity among the various denominations.
The capital is Buka and the tropical climate make it an excellent region for cultivating Cocoa and Vanila as small holder crops in the rich volcanic soil. Agriculture and dairying can be taken up for bettering the lives of the villagers if value addition practices are introduced. Same is the case with fisheries .Cassava, sago and millets along with yams and bananas are other areas offering for value addition as is done elsewhere in PNG and Solomon Islands.
98 percent live in rural areas and gender wise while 51 percent are men only 49 percent are women. Close to 90 percent are engaged in agriculture growing cocoa, vanilla, fruit trees, etc Thus the opportunity cost available to the vast majority are tending to zero.
Copper mining is the real export earner for the new nation as it was for many in the past more so for PNG and thus the bone of contention.
How to Rebuild Holistically Bougainville?
Here I being a holistic development partitioner with PNG experience as the erstwhile Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation with DAL during the 1990s and as the ADB consultant in PNG for five years with rich and varied experience in the costal and hilly regions alike in PNG, let me portray the model for crucial assessment and action.
- Bench mark survey
All the villages and settlements numbering over 800 may be covered by a quick survey by trained enumerators under each parish of the churches by deploying trained volunteers to ascertain the felt needs of the people for initiating development programmes. Special questionnaires may be developed -pretested to capture the exact filed situations in terms of socio—economic data and felt needs and to identify focal points –growth centres.
Again an all Bougainville Debt Survey to be conducted side by side to embark up on the real rebuilding based on Micro Finance oriented programmes to make the people self- sustainable entrepreneurs. Another survey on Savings –Food security and wellness to be taken up .
Dairying may be taken up under Animal husbandry to augment crop husbandry depending on the local conditions.
- Value added agriculture — products may be tried out on cooperative fold and may be marketed through church out lets as Church is meant for holistic empowerment of the community.
- Wellness and Millets—Efforts are required to reach out schools –colleges and even hospitals to shift to millets based foods instead of depending on the imported corn beef and rice couture. The need to shift to Millets from carbohydrates is another challenge.
- A stagey may be in place to cultivate positive millets to make the people health conscious and wellness oriented.
- Surely we must plan as how to dove tail our efforts with the on going SDGs of the UN for the new nation.
Monitoring & Evaluation
There is a need to have on going monitoring by the government agencies, church organisation and the peoples development councils to ensure trouble shooting. It may be got done by the stake holders joint council.
Funding
The Government may get funds form UNDP—FAO –IFAD– ADB etc to help the farmers as grants along with donors with strict procedures in place to plug leakages.
Organisational Setup
We may work out an acceptable organisation set up after consultations with all stake holders
Special Offer
If required I am willing to work as the Advisor and consultant for a period of 4 to 6 weeks in the field and my fees will be only my air tickets and local hospitality and per diem of USD 300 daily. I am willing to forego my professional fees of daily USD 3000 for this emerging new nation. That means a neat sum of USD 1,26,000 for six weeks or 42 days. This is my donation to the rebuilding of the New Bougainville Nation!
Dr. KM George
Secretary General—GMF & CEO SDF
14th Aug 2024
Appendix 1
Bougainville Quick Facts
GEOGRAPHY:
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville (formerly known as the Northern Solomons Province) is comprised of two main islands, Bougainville Island and Buka Island, and many small islands and atolls. In total, the region’s terrestrial area covers approximately 9,384km2. The region is organised into three sub-districts; North, Central and South. The landscape is a mix of coastal and mountainous areas with the highest feature, Mount Balbi, reaching 2,715m above sea level.
PEOPLE:
The population of Bougainville was recorded as 249,358 in the 2011 census but is estimated to now be around 300,000. Its people, Bougainvilleans, are mostly Melanesian but there are also descendants of Micronesian and Polynesian origin (mostly from the outer atolls). The majority of the population live outside the three main urban centres in villages.
LANGUAGE:
There are at least 19 distinct indigenous languages in Bougainville. Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinean Pidgin English) is the lingua franca across the districts and English is also widely spoken.
CLIMATE:
Most of the region is humid and hot with an annual mean temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Rainfall decreases further north in the Region from 4500mm in the South of Bougainville Island to 2500mm in the North of Buka Island.
HEALTH:
A referal hospital is located in Buka Town and Arawa has a large health centre. Small health centres are located across the region. Bougainville is prone to tropical and mosquito-borne diseases.
NATURAL HAZARDS:
The region experiences earthquakes and is vulnerable to tsunamis on its coastal areas. Bougainville Island also has a number of active volcanoes. The region does not experience tropical cyclones but in the event of strong rainfall river crossings and bridges are prone to flooding.
TOWNSHIPS:
There are three main town centres in the Region; Buka Town, Arawa and Buin.
Buka Town – Located on the Buka Island shore of the Buka Passage (the channel separating Bougainville and Buka Islands), Buka Town is the current capital of the Region and hosts the Autonomous Government’s headquarters. Transport to Bougainville Island from Buka Town is available at several boat stops in the centre of town. Taxi and PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) services are also available for getting around Buka Town. Buka Town also has an airport which is regularly serviced via Port Moresby and Rabaul.
Arawa – Formally the capital of the province, Arawa is located in Central Bougainville. Prior to the crisis Arawa was a busy town during the active years of the nearby Panguna Copper Mine. Taxis and PMVs also operate in Arawa. Nearby on the coast south from the township is Kieta/Aropa Airport and Kieta Port.
Buin – Located in Bougainville’s Southern District, Buin is accessible from Arawa via two roads (one following the Eastern coast or one passing by the Panguna Mine). Buin’s proximity to the southern coast of Bougainville also means it is an informal point of contact with the neighbouring Solomon Islands.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
- New Year’s Day – 1st January
- Good Friday – 25th March
- Easter Saturday – 26th March
- Easter Sunday – 27th March
- Easter Monday – 28th March
- Queen’s Birthday – 13th June
- ABG Inauguration Day – 15th June
- National Rememberance Day 23rd July
- National Covenant Day – 26th August
- PNG Independence Day – 16th September
- Christmas Day – 25th December
- Boxing Day – 26th December
TIME ZONE:
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville uses equivalent to GMT+11, this is referred to as Bougainville Standard Time (one hour ahead of the time used in the other regions of Papua New Guinea, GMT+10).
CURRENCY AND BANKING:
The unit of currency in Bougainville is the Papua New Guinea Kina (PGK) which is divided into 100 toea. The Bank of South Pacific (BSP) is the only commercial bank in Bougainville and has branches in Buka and Arawa. Normal banking hours are Monday to Thursday, 9:00am to 3:00pm and Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS:
The Region uses the same international dialling code as PNG (+675). Digicel has the most extensive mobile telephone and internet coverage at about 80% of Bougainville including Buka, Tinputz, Wakunai, Arawa, Panguna, Bana, Siwai and Buin. Radio Ples Lain 89.1 FM is a mobile community radio programme operated by the ABG’s Bureau of Public Affairs Media and Communications. NBC Bougainville (Buka – 94.5 FM, Arawa 95.5 FM) is one of the 19 PNG National Broadcasting Commission radio stations. New Dawn 95.3 FM is a private commercial radio station located in Buka Town. Cable/satellite television is available.
VISAS:
Bougainville is a region of Papua New Guinea so the national immigration and visa conditions apply just as in all other parts of Papua New Guinea. Tourist visas are available upon arrival in Port Moresby to citizens of Australia, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom and many European countries, provided onward air-tickets are carried by the visitor. Duration of stay in Papua New Guinea is a maximum of 60 days. If in doubt, contact the nearest Papua New Guinea High Commission/Consulate, or the Australian High Commission/Embassy. For further information, visit PNG Immigration Services or the PNG Tourism Website.
POST OFFICE AND COURIERS:
PNG Post in Buka is open from 9.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and from 9.00am to 12pm on Saturdays. An express service (EMS) is available, with delivery to Australia usually within 48 hours. Postal Deliveries are made to Post Office boxes that can be rented out by companies and individuals. TNT and DHL couriers have agents in Buka Town.