The PNG National Government has allocated K15 million (US$6 million) to the Autonomous Bougainville Government to honour a commitment towards the peace and restoration program.
The funding is a development grant to ABG which was part of the peace agreement.
Treasury and Finance Minister Don Polye, in his supplementary budget speech to Parliament, said the previous government did not provide funding for the commitment in the 2011 budget.
He said this was now being corrected in the supplementary budget.
Petroleum and Energy Minister William Duma thanked the new government for providing funds for Bougainville. He said Bougainville was part of PNG and he was pleased that K15 million had been allocated to the ABG.
Duma said President John Momis would be pleased that the new government had given recognition to Bougainville, including the appointment of Bougainvillean ministers to the national cabinet.
Source: The National Newspaper, 22nd September 2011