Bird urges govt to act

BUSINESSES are trying their best to keep their doors open as they continue to face challenges which make it difficult to run their operations in PNG, says East Sepik Governor Allan Bird.
Bird accused the Government of failing to honour its promise to provide a relief package to those affected by the Jan 10 civil unrest.
“The delay is seriously affecting business confidence in the country.
“In fact, business confidence has been progressively declining over the years, and this year will be the breaking point for many business houses,” he said.
He said the prospect of downsizing, laying off staff, cutting costs and closing shop were something many were being forced to contend with.
He also referred to the recent remarks by visiting Swire Group chairman Barnaby Swire on issues facing investors as a “major wake up call for our leaders”.
“We in the Opposition certainly heard it loud and clear.
“The need for stability in law and order, energy and policy are what businesses need,” he said.
He added that Westpac bank’s senior economist Justin Smirk recently confirmed much of what the Opposition had been recently saying about the challenges facing businesses: a shortage of expertise and skills, foreign exchange, security, unreliable utilities, lack of government capacity and regulatory uncertainty.
“How can we expect our businesses to pay taxes, when they have to drive to work on poor roads in company cars that need to refuel in long queues, work in offices protected by fences and security, pay thousands of kina for unreliable power and more for generator fuel, and on top of all that, have to contend with increase in cost for goods and services?”
He said the same could be said for small businesses.
“The private sector is the engine room of any country,” Smirk said.
“If we want jobs for our people, especially our young people, we must help private sector to thrive.
“But sadly, right now the country’s engine is in serious need of care.
“We cannot continue to take the private sector’s resilience for granted.”