The Minister for Bougainville Affairs Mannaseh Makiba, expressed regret and deep disappointment over the unwarranted and inappropriate comments over the status of the Buka Airport, made by the Member for Ijivitari, David Arore at the Buka Airport recently. It was even more disappointing as the Ijivitari MP was in Buka, by invitation of the Minister Makiba, as part of the delegation of the 11 National MPs who visited to observe the 4th ABG House of Representatives 1st meeting this year and also meet with the ABG leadership. “Our visit and meetings were well intended and the delegation left Buka on Thursday except Mr. Arore who stayed back on his own accord and while leaving Buka on Friday, caused the incident.” The mobile phone video record of the incident has been circulated widely on social media and captures David Arore berating the state of the Buka Airport. While supporting the Autonomous Region of Bougainville’s President’s statement over this incident, Minister Makiba mentioned that it is not helpful when leaders make such reckless and insensitive statements about Bougainville and its development concerns publicly without regard to the importance of the issues at hand. Minister Makiba said it is understood the Prime Minister and the National Government have given top priority to the Bougainville Peace Agreement and the Constitution through which the National Government and the ABG leaderships have a very good and cordial working relationship. “I asked Arore to apologize to the ABG and our people of Bougainville. I regret this unfortunate incident and sincerely apologize to the President Ishmael Toroama and Bougainville and the people of Buka and Bougainville for Arore’s inappropriate conduct.”