Govt restoring normalcy

By DALE LUMA
PRIME Minister James Marape says the impact of the lockdown is starting to catch up, with the Government, business community and ordinary citizens feeling the effects.
He said the Government was gradually restoring normalcy starting with the reopening of schools.
“We thought that Covid-19 was going to pass through in the first quarter of the year. We now realise that it will be (with) us for the (rest) of this year,” Marape said. “We (Government) are adjusting to living with Covid-19 and the proper protocols are starting to come out. Schools are coming back. We want to restore business and everything else.”
He said the effects of the lockdown in the past month or so had “caught up on us”.
“It has caught up on government, it has caught up on businesses, but more importantly, it has caught up on the least among us, our ordinary citizens,” he said.
“Many have been laid off from their jobs – those formally engaged in a paid job.
“As we go through, we will open up business again bit by bit.”
Marape urged established small-medium enterprises to seek assistance from Bank South Pacific, Kina Bank and the National Development Bank.
“They have got cheap loan facilities available.
“They will refinance the loan you have today. Get yourself refinanced,” he said.
“Government will continue to partner those banks who want to partner with us to ensure that you have some money to start your business again.”
Marape said “tough times require tough people to rise”.
“Covid-19 is not going to be the last pandemic to strike this planet.
“We have got to learn to resist by sheer human strength,” he said.
“I want to rally Papua New Guineans to join hands and support one another, especially the least among us.”