Cash relief deals

The National Main Stories
James Marape

By GYNNIE KERO
THE Government has approached the commercial banks and superannuation funds to assist those currently facing financial hardship related to the State of Emergency.
Prime Minister James Marape said commercial banks were expected to give a three-month buffer to customers who took out loans.
Superannuation funds have been asked to allow members recently laid off from work to access their savings.
“We will be working with the commercial banks to provide short-term relief to borrowers (affected by) the immediate impact of the current global crisis,” he said.
He thanked the commercial banks and superfunds for the “positive meeting with me and the Central Bank governor”.
“They have shown that they are true corporate citizens during this downtime,” he said.
He said the banks had indicated that they would give “three months or so” to defer loan repayments for individuals, small and medium enterprises, and businesses.
“We are also working with the superfunds to take care of families whose breadwinners had been laid off,” he said.
“We know many in the private sector had laid off employees. So the superfunds have been asked to ensure that their savings are given to them, at least their personal savings.”
Marape also announced a number of measures to be taken to cushion the impact of the crisis on the national economy.
“Borders have closed. Movement of goods and people have been constrained. Economic activity has slowed,” he said.
The measures include:

  • a downward revision of the 2020 budget to reflect the changing and evolving economic circumstances that we face;
  • a review on tax and non-tax revenue projections;
  • the deferral to next year of some projects including the rollout of the national identification programme (NID) and the national census.

On the monetary policy, there will be:

  • a review of cash reserve requirements to increase total liquidity;
  • a review of the Kina Facility Rate to cushion upward pressure on interest rates;
  • a review of foreign exchange controls over currency trading by banks to prevent overpricing of currencies.

21 comments

  • We workers (employees) must also do communuty service and give back to country, without charging fees during this challenging times. Our country needs our help now…

  • This is very good,and also going to helpful but when will we be able to access our nasfund savings and how?can it be given asap.

  • thats great news, can the same be done to other private Loan institutes/Companies as well??

  • Do likewise to our NCSL savings (General Savings) which are not yet reach its eligibility for withdrawal, with the same approach transfer our savings to our Poro Account so we can do early withdraw as well.
    Most of us we rely on informal spin of business like markets and selling of other basic items which our wife and mothers do at home (table market etc) regularly to ensure our basic needs acquired on daily basis. This form of income really help keep us going which we cannot afford it at one stage and wait till payday. This has now come to a complete stop due to total lockdown set up by the government for this covid19 from breakout. This has really affecting us from affording our basic needs we need at least something to be on the table every afternoon when we gets back home from work.

    Thank you Government and Superannuation plus those stakeholders for putting hands together for taking this initiative forward to make this possible for those unfortunate ones and even everyone of us affected in this critical period of covid19.

    • Yes please l agree and support you, because some of us got loan from other loan institutions apart from the commercial Banks

  • Having the PM say that the recently laid off workers to access their superfunds, can this apply to all members but only to a limited amount, for example, 10% or so…

  • A true servant appointed by GOD ALMIGHTY in answer to the cries and prayers of the people of PNG. May GOD bless you (PM JM) with HIS never-ending wisdom to lead the country through this storm.

  • What about those self employd mother always selling ice blocks and buai table.. this state of emegency & lockdown is really affecting those …. people. Can government consider thim too?

  • Thanks to our heavenly father for the wisdom and knowledge acquired to our choosen PM. JM.

    God Bless…

  • That is good, other private loan companies should do the same, just until the S.O.E period is over.

  • James Marape is the real son of this land who really considers the livelihood of every PNGans and that is the way forward. He is the PM who really has the heart of people in him. We really need that kind of Prime Minister to run the affairs of the country. I believe that he will be the best PM in the next coming election if Tari-Pori gives him the second chance. People, we have been lost for far too long and this is the time where a true son of this land is rising.

  • Prime Minister Marape,
    Thank you for protecting your people by closing our borders. Latest news received shows that countries around PNG, including Indonesia, Australia, Philippines and Fiji are experiencing exponential increases of COVID-19.
    God bless PNG.

    • Thank you David T. Fully support your comments. Our borders Must be guarded at all times due to COVID 19. Let us all do our part to keep our country and our people safe. We all must start to realise the importance of Food Security and rely heavily on our locally produced food crop.

  • Thank you for helping Gods people at this point of time. You all will be rewarded by God the father later on.

    Thank you once again Prime Minister and your team.

  • Private loan compnies could also assist with the governments call and help their clients with some short term relief assistance. Prime Minister could also call on the Finance Companies to look at helping their clients as well.

    Prime Minister is showing good leadership and the best is yet come.

  • Thank you PM.
    If I have not understood, can those still working be paid FULL PAY without a single toea being deducted for the next three months depending on the situation at hand. When I went to NASFUND and POSFtoday, I was asked too many STUPID questions. However, my balance should have answered their stupid questions. FULL STOP. i am not trying to impersinate. Or do I go in with a gun for my poor familie’s sake.

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