Debt over 55 per cent, Polye says

 OPPOSITON leader Don Polye says the debt to GDP ratio is higher than the 35 per cent Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has stated.

He said this yesterday in response to O’Neill’s statements on the debt level of the country.

“I’m challenging the prime minister to tell the truth and not to suppress the truth,” Polye told The National.

“The truth is that it (debt to GDP ratio) has gone well beyond 55 per cent.

“It’s close to 60 per cent, so why is the prime minister lying to the people of this country in regards to their debt? It is their country.

“We need to know the truth about what is happening.”

Polye said the K3 billion UBS loan was responsible for creating “this huge debt”.

“The low commodity prices have just added fuel to the excessive fire,” he said.

“The debt levels of this country have shot through the roof  to 60 per cent of GDP.

“That’s why public servants are not being paid, that’s why police are not being paid, that’s why people are receiving cuts in their salaries.”