Locals and community leaders of Rau village in Wakunai District in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville have recently celebrated the official opening of a permanent and fully furnished community government building.
This is an initiative from the Australian government who is partnering with the Autonomous Government of Bougainville (ABG) and the Government of Papua New Guinea.
This partnership will see the roll-out of 19 community buildings across Bougainville. The Rau community hall is the first to be completed out of 19 community halls that will be built across the region of Bougainville. It is a 225 square metre building fully equipped with a kitchenette, a storage room, a disability access ramp, 30 chairs and storage racks, ceiling fans, and a 9,000-litre water tank.
Other locations Bougainville that will also benefit from the initiative are Baubake, Lenoke, Siwai, Motuna Huyono, Baba, Arawa, Kongara, Ioro, North Nasioi, Selau Suir, Tonsu, Peit, Tsitalato, Haku, and Halia.
Most of these buildings are nearing completion and three more are still in the planning stage. The community halls will provide a space for regular dialogue between men, women, and youth to participate in the decision-making processes of their communities, and these buildings once all completed will also serve as venues for government agencies and private sector companies to share their services with the members of the communities.
In a Ministerial Statement to the Bougainville House of Representatives, ABG Minister for Community Government, Theonila Roka Matbob, stated that these community meeting spaces are designed principally to support community governments and wards.
“Theses spaces will be providing functional spaces for elected women and men, to exercise leadership and administrative duties together, and for community meetings and local activities.”
At the Rau Community Hall opening, Australian High Commission Minister Counsellor, Paul Lehmann, highlighted that Australia is happy to work alongside the Department of Community Government, supporting ongoing capacity building and institutional strengthening work for community governments in Bougainville. Mr Lehman from the Australian High Commission Port Moresby added that the Australia prioritises contracting local Bougainville based service providers.
“This initiative is also creating employment opportunities for Bougainvilleans, and through the construction works of the community halls and government offices, more than 100 people all around Bougainville gained employment, income and benefited from skills development.”