Corruption holding back PNG: Marape

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
COMPLACENCY and corruption are the two things holding back the country, says Prime Minister James Marape.
Yesterday marked his administration’s second year in office.
“Our country had been faced with two chronic diseases.
“That’s where we took (the country back) from.
“And if you’re part of that status quo, then you (still) belong to the past,” Marape said.
He blamed complacent public servants for holding the country back.
“(You) show up to work at 11 and finish at 3.
“You don’t see the big picture.
“Your lens is reduced to two weeks – your fortnightly income,” Marape said.
“And if the fortnightly income is less, you look for alternative source of revenue, whether through the black market, on the side, or through corrupt deals.”
He urged everyone to make PNG a better place for its citizens.
“There is no one else who is going to do the job for us. It is us,” Marape said.
“Our statement of achievements has a list of what we’ve done in the past two years.
“Every one of you played your part in a weak economic environment.”
Some of the Government’s achievements include the re-negotiated Porgera mining project, the negotiated Papua LNG agreement and the launching of the Connect PNG 2020-2040 to link all parts of the country by road.