This year, 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of the twinning programs between the State Parliaments of Australia and the Pacific Region.
The Bougainville House of Representatives is a beneficiary including the Solomon Islands Parliament, twinned with the New South Wales Parliament of Australia, active under the management o the Twinning Steering Committee.
The Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives, Simon Pentanu is happy with the twinning program with the New South Wales Parliament of Australia, which staff of both Parliaments have benefited from the twinning activities since the commencement of this program in 2010.
“This is one project through joint funding, which has enabled the Bougainville Parliament in training years,”
He said they will continue to strengthen the partnership to improve parliamentary services in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The Bougainville Senior Leader’s Training Program is conducted under the New South Wales Twinning Program, funded by DFAT, which the President, Vice President and cabinet ministers are trained under this program.
“Through the facilities, we are discussing how to improve, get smarter with the help of professionals,”
At the meantime, the Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives also acknowledged the role of the United Nation’s Development Program funding the Parliamentary Support Project.
“In terms of the referendum process, UNDP ensures that members of the Bougainville House of Representatives go to the constituencies and carry out their work,” Pentanu said.
