Do not attack author: O’Neill

IALIBU-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill says Prime Minister James Marape should not attack the author of a latest economic report released recently by ANZ Bank.
In a statement, O’Neill said “Instead of blaming everyone else but himself, and attacking the author of this latest report, Marape should listen for a start instead of living in a dream world.
“The ANZ Bank is one of many independent economic organisations sounding the alarm, such as just about every business in our country, Chambers of Commerce, the resources sector and our multilateral partners.
“Marape’s admission that he has no idea what to do, and is finally reaching out for our help, gives some re-assurance.
“I will gladly tell Marape what he should do to get the economy out of the mess he created.
The the first step is he must immediately comply with the law and release the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) report that was due in July.
“Then we can have a clear picture of the economy, the extent of the damage.
“His (Marape) billions of Kina in borrowed funds can be recovered and re-prioritised.
“Without having sighted the overdue MYEFO, the immediate steps are obvious in any case.
Get the resources sector working by concluding the many agreements he has failed including Papua LNG, P’nyang, and Wafi-Golpu; immediately re-open Porgera mine, and get Ok Tedi back to business.
“He has to strengthen IRC in collecting overdue taxes, provide taxation relief to get business moving .
“He has to bring back investment to stimulate the economy that will generate government revenue, instead of just borrowing billions and billions of kina that appear to have now gone missing,” O’Neill said.