Country needs experienced leaders: O’Neill

THE country needs experienced leaders to help resuscitate the economy and gain investor confidence, according to former prime minister Peter O’Neill.
The People’s National Congress (PNC) party leader visited Seim village in Nuku and Aitape in West Sepik yesterday to support the party’s candidates for General Election 2022.
They are Andrew Kumbakor (Nuku), Anderson Mise (Aitape-Lumi) and Oree Greg Kapanombo (West Sepik regional) seats.
O’Neill informed the people of Nuku and Aitape about PNC’s policies and the state of the economy.
He said that experienced leaders such as Kumbakor and others in the party contest in this general elections with the aim of getting the nation back on course.
O’Neill said he resigned in 2019 as the prime minister hoping young leaders would address the country’s problems.
But, he said that did not eventuate, adding that the country’s economy went from bad to worse.
Collapsing health system, no job opportunities and investors lacking confidence were among other points repeatedly raised by O’Neill.
“Young ones (leaders) can’t look after the country, investors couldn’t come in (to invest in PNG) because they have no confidence.
“Many young people are back in the villages, no jobs.
“That’s why I want old (experienced) people back like Kumbakor, he has experience and I had worked with him,” O’Neill told a gathering at Seim village yesterday.
He urged people in West Sepik to support all PNC candidates in the province, saying the party would stand by its commitments when it formed Government come August.