Tuesday 10th June, 2025
Member for South Bougainville and minister for ICT Timothy Masiu has welcomed the signing of Contract agreement to build a new K12.8 Million state of the art Market in Buin, South Bougainville.
Mr Masiu who is in New Zealand for the Bougainville leaders consultation talks expressed deep satisfaction and relief that after seven (7) years the dream for a quality market building for mothers and vendors in and around South Bougainville is now coming to fruition.
He thanked the Marape Rosso Government and other stakeholders for making this come true.
“This is a key and high impact project for me and my people of Buin and the whole South Bougainville and once completed will empower my people especially the mothers who have been patient and waited for this market for such a long time.
This market will be used by vendors who come from the Solomon Islands and other parts of Bougainville every week to do their business of marketing their garden produces, as well as sell other items like artifacts or souvenirs.
The Minister said this market will have all the much needed facilities including a police post an auditorium, fresh fish and garden food sections.
“This is a market of convenience where every person is given the space to enjoy doing business.”
Mr Masiu also thanked his DDA Board members from the past and present for making the decision to allocate funding for a modern Market facility that would last for a longer period and of quality standard with infrastructure that will last a for some 30-40 or more years and where vendors will no longer sit on the ground or outside the market area .
“It has taken some 7 years since the DDA Board of South Bougainville approved the project and despite criticisms, allegations and claims against me and my district officers of misuse of funds, we are now very happy and excited to deliver this project.
“We had to also make sure that we followed all the required procedures and processes in making sure we bring a quality project that will be the highlight of our development aspirations in South Bougainville and the whole of Bougainville.
He said the market construction will run parallel with the construction of the new modern level 4 Hospital in Buin Town which when completed in about 2027 will lift the status of Buin, the district and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville to the next level.
He said his Second Secretary Mr John Itanu, The DDA Board CEO Mr Peter Kamuai and Buin town Manager Mr Mathias Kunugere will be representing him to witness the signing ceremony at Government House between the State and construction company KPT.
Once Completed a Market Authority will be put in place with rules and guidelines to run and manage the market.
Other projects earmarked for Buin, is the Bougainville Teachers College, the upgrading of the Buin Airstrip to Airport status, the Kangu wharf upgrading, sealing of Buin Town roads and the soon to be completed 1 megawatts Solar Power farm and many other infrastructures to be built.
This is the unprecedented transformation we will see as Bougainville prepares for its Independence.