PM Marape tells former PM O’Neill, ‘I am not stupid’
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
PM Marape tells former
PM O’Neill, ‘I am not stupid’
PORT MORESBY: Prime Minister James Marape tells former
prime minister Peter O’Neill that he is not stupid.
“I am the son of the
everyday Papua New Guinean – I know what it feels like like and how to help
everyone right across the country.
“So, Mr O’Neill, I am
telling you, in eight good years, when my gas was flowing out in 2014 and Papua
New Guinea (PNG) was supposed to be alright, you grew the economy by only K35
billion.
“For me, in three hard
years of economic recession and Coronavirus (Covid-19), I grew the economy by
K30 billion. That is my record,” he added.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few General Election 2022 news updates published by The National:
K30bil GDP growth in
3yrs: PM
June 21, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
PRIME Minister James
Marape says when he formed the Government in 2019, Papua New Guinea was in
economic recession and the gross domestic product (GDP) was K78.6 billion.
“Today, it is K109 billion. We grew the GDP by K30 billion in three years,
despite the recession,” he said. “You can confirm all these facts with the
World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and our own
Central Bank. By 2018, our country was already on record as officially in
recession at – 0.3 per cent growth. Basically, this means PNG had run out of
money!
“This is the fact, a fact that is absolutely contrary to what (former prime
minister Peter) O’Neill has been spinning lately that he had fixed the economy
of the country!
“So guess what? To the doomsayers and those in the Opposition, the World Bank
stated in March that PNG’s economy will hit K109 billion by the end of this
year.
“In three hard years, by God’s grace and by using an economic tool called
deficit budget financing strategy, we have kept the economy operational.
“James Marape is not stupid. I am the son of the everyday Papua New Guinean – I
know what it feels like and how to help everyone right across the country.
“So Mr O’Neill, I am telling you, in eight good years, when my gas was flowing
out in 2014 and PNG was supposed to be alright, you grew the economy by only
K35 billion.
“For me, in three hard years of economic recession and Covid-19, I grew the
economy by K30 billion. That is my record.
“Within the next seven years, Pangu aims to grow the economy by over K200
billion. With our fiscal consolidation plan to bring budget to surplus in 2027
and become debt-free by 2034, the road we are travelling on is good.” Marape said
Pangu put PNG back on track by tackling corruption after it formed Government
three years ago.
“Corruption had consumed 20 to 30 per cent of PNG’s wealth. We started the
Independent Commission Against Corruption to fight corruption,” he said.
Marape spoke at a Pangu Pati election rally for all its National Capital
District candidates at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby on Sunday.
“Papua New Guineans either vote Pangu Pati back to continue its reconstructive
work in rescuing the damaged national economy, or make the mistake of returning
PNG to the hands of the People’s National Congress,” he said.
“Pangu’s growth focus are building good housing, good economy, good education
and health systems, good infrastructure and roads and improving public law and
order.
“We will also give school dropouts a second chance in education and business.
“We got our country back from greedy hands, or people who only think of
themselves and their business, (including) Members of Parliament who want to
make business.
“My wife and me have no business but only serve the country. Money is not
important, policy is. Give us the next five years.”
West Sepik gets election funding
WEST Sepik has
received its funding for the General Election 2022 for training, polling and
counting, says provincial election manager Salote Kai.
She said the materials for polling and counting are expected this week.
Kai said since time was running out, they would fast-track trainings for
assistant returning officers, polling and counting officials.
“This week is for material disbursement to Oksapmin and Telefomin, while materials
for Yapsie and Namea will be dispatched through Vanimo once they arrive from
Port Moresby,” she said.
“Election office officials will discuss the drawdown of funding. The only thing
that we are thinking of now is the gazetting of the AROs. If this is not done
early, it may delay the AROs training.
“Generally, there has been no major law and order situation in the province.
The nomination and campaigning were conducted peacefully.”
Kai urged West Sepik people to refrain from election-related offences and to
maintain peace.
Govt pledges K700mil grant for Porgera
PRIME Minister James Marape says the
Government has made a commitment of K700 million to resettle the people in the
Porgera mine project impact area.
He told people in Porgera, Enga, yesterday that it would be broken down to K100
million a year for the next seven years.
“The K700 million was under the infrastructure development grant for Porgera,”
he said.
“I would like to see a proper resettlement exercise.
“There is a way to draw down this funding early to enable the planning of a
proper mining township so you can settle people properly.”
A commitment was made to do away with the Mineral Resources Enga (MRE), as a
decision needed to be made for the split in benefit between the landowners and
the Enga government.
“Some decisions have been made,” he said.
Marape said while the mine has not been opened yet, the Government had put
aside K100 million for the MRE to set the new Porgera mine on a new path.
“If the landowners would like to come up with a company, then that’s up to
them,” he said.
Marape said K40 million had been given while the balance of K60 million would
be given once the development forum finalised the reopening of the mine. He
said the K100 million was allocated under the business development grant to
cater for businesses which had to shut down because of the mine’s closure.
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