Media personnel in Port Moresby including journalists based in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville are attending a two day workshop in Port Moresby.
The workshop aims to train journalists to be better informed when reporting on Electoral events in preparation for the Bougainville Referendum.
According to the Bougainville Referendum Commission timeline, Enrolment and voter registration will end on Friday the 27th of September at 4pm, just before the issue of writs.Two weeks of Polling will start on November 23rd.
Bougainvilleans will have options to choose between 1) Greater Autonomy, or 2) Independence.
Counting is expected early in December with the declaration of results and return of writs mid-December.
The BRC will announce the count for each option and return the writ to the Governor General.
A 40 day appeal process will take place after the count.
The Result from the Referendum process is non-binding, as the National Government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government have agreed to the following process;
- Eligible people of Bougainville will vote in the referendum
- National Government and ABG will consult, and
- National Parliament will make the final decision
