Bougainville Govt, sets up shop

From Harry Jackson In Png

Throughout Papua New Guinea local government has to find more revenue to meet the fast-growing population’s increasing demands for more and better services. A number of councils are seeking a partial solution through operating commercial enterprises, and it looks as if the provincial governments may go into business in a big way The Bougainville Provincial Government, first of its kind, is setting up a Development Corporation with $2 million nominal capital. Shares will initially be held by BPG but a public issue is to be made to Bougainvilleans.

The corporation is a holding company for several subsidiary public and proprietary companies. It has established Bougainville Air Services Pty Ltd, which has acquired the service including aircraft, formerly owned md managed by the Missionarv Aviation g Fellowship, and Atoll Shipping Pty Ltd, with a 50 ft vessel in which seven freezers are to be installed, to service the outer islands with consumer goods and charter C work ““ ** “ Wd ‘ “ do '" g Another subsidiary is Bougainville Canteens Pty Ltd which conducts four Set cameern, owned by Bougainville Conner Ltd for a management fee. fk-ht control with monthly finanpany, should ensure profitability.

Also being formed, in 50:50 part-

nership with a foreign firm, is Pan guna Catering Services Pty Ltd, which will have a labour only cater ing and accommodation contract worth $500,000 a year for the whole of the mining area, Each partner will contribute $250,000 for equipment, fleet and supplies, and the partnership will borrow the additional funds needed for working capital, The Bougainville D eveJopment Corporation Ltd will be helped by the non-renewable resources fund into which Bougainville Copper Limited has to pay 50 cents per tonne of exported copper, with an equal amount contributed by the Papua New Guinea Government. The fund s annual current mcome is about $350,000. . , In pursuit of its programme of (a) acquisition, (b) consolidation, and (c) having Bougamvilleans take over the management, the corpora tion does not hesl * ate emp oy foreigners for the ll ™ e L the Pro- Under the eagle eye of^he vincial Government s s ‘aff, h e Eided by execu live officer, three other Bougam villean university graduates, and Mr Gary Ray an Austrian busmes velopment officer, the Corporation looks like setting a good example to portion hopes for $250,000 net prom m 1985-86.

The Chief Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr Michael Somare, officially takes delivery of a Golden Eagle Cessna aircraft for VIP and other government use. Mr Somare said the aircraft would enable the government to get closer to the people, especially at village level. The aircraft, christened Kumul One, cost more than 250,000 kina.

It is equipped with radar and is air-conditioned. It can carry six passengers. Listening to Mr Somare are Mr Yons, general manager of Rex Aviation of Australia, Mrs Yens, Mr Julius Chan (Finance Minister) and Mr Ebia Olewale (Minister for Justice). "It's not just for Michael Thomas Somare", said the Chief Minister, but there has been wide criticism of the purchase voiced by the "men in the street". The plane was used to take Police Minister Mr Lus and others to the scene of the riots.