Governance Information for Bougainville

Type of Government:

The Autonomous Bougainville Government has jurisdiction only over the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in accordance with its Constitution and the Bougainville Peace Agreement as implemented in Part XIV (Bougainville Government and Bougainville Referendum) of the PNG National Constitution.

Capital city:

Arawa

Population:

175,160 (2000 census)[1]

Year of current Constitution:

2004

President:

Joseph Kabui

Vice President:

Joseph Watawi

Ministers:

Ten person caretaker Cabinet[2]

Finance Minister: Mathias Salas, also overseeing minerals, gas and petroleum exploration.

Vice President Joseph Watawi is in charge of the public service, trade and industry, and micro-financing.

Health Minister: Gerard Sinato, also overseeing environmental and conservation matters.

Minister for women, religion and traditional authority: Magdalene Toroansi

Minister of Police: Ezekiel Masatt

Parliament:

The House of Representatives has a total membership of 41, comprising 39 elected members, the Speaker and the President. The Speaker is appointed by the House from outside its membership and the President is a full member of the

House – the Vice-President is appointed from amongst the elected MPs.[3] 

With respect to the remaining 39 House members:[4]

(i) for the first general election of members of the House of Representatives, 33 directly are elected members, and thereafter not more than 38 nor less than 28 members, each representing a single member constituency; and

(ii) three women members, each representing a constituency for a separate Region (North, Central and South), elected to represent the interests of the women of the Region; and

(iii) three former combatant members, each representing a constituency for a separate Region (North, Central and South),

elected to represent the interests of former combatants in the Region

Note: Elected members of the PNG National Parliament representing electorates in Bougainville (of which there are currently 4) are entitled to attend meetings of the Bougaingville House of Representatives and to take part in debate and proceedings in the same way as members of the House of Representatives but –

(a) may not introduce motions; and

(b) may not vote on any matter; and

(c) shall not be counted towards a quorum

Electoral System:

Elections are by universal suffrage, from 18 years of age.  Elections of the President and of the members of the House of Representatives shall be –

(a) in the case of the first election of the President or of a member or members of the House of Representatives – by a non-preferential single vote system; and

(b) in the case of subsequent elections of the President and of members of the House of Representatives – by a preferential voting system.

Most recent election:

The first Elections of the ARB Government were held in May and June of 2005. On June 15, 2005, Joseph Kabui was elected President.

Political Parties:

Not available.

Judicial System:

The Bougainville High Court and other Bougainville Courts are part of the PNG National Judicial System. The Bougainville Courts consist of –

(a) the Bougainville High Court

(b) Bougainville courts (other than the Bougainville High Court and a court with a jurisdiction similar to that of a National Village Court)

(c) the Supreme Court established under the National Constitution, which is the final court of appeal for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, including appeals in relation to determinations made by the Bougainville High Court under the jurisdiction of the Bougainville High Court; and

(d) the National Court established under the National Constitution

Chief Justice:

Sir Mari Kapi

Speaker of the House of Representatives:

Hon. Nicholas Peniai

Electoral Commissioner:

The Bougainville Electoral Commissioner is appointed for a period of five years by the Bougainville Senior Appointments Committee, and is responsible for the conduct of elections to the House of Representatives.

Sources:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainville_Province