Govt urged to fix economy

DEPUTY Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa has called on the Government to stop listening to foreign advisors and start making realistic decisions to address the state of the country’s economy.
Tomuriesa said the economy was struggling, inflation rates were continuing to increase and many Papua New Guinean families were struggling as the unemployment rate continues to increase. He said despite the Government delivering budgets to repair the economy, the household relief package, the removal of taxes on fuel and lowering of prices of key household commodities have not come into effect yet and many families were struggling.
“It’s time the Government swallow its pride and admit they were wrong and go back and fix the economy,” he said.
Tomuriesa called on Prime Minister James Marape to sit with the National Planning Minister Rainbo Paita, Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey and fix the issue.
“We cannot keep saying the economy is doing well, see for yourself, the cost of basic food in the shops have increased, see how hundreds of people gathered outside the Stanley Hotel for the walk-in interview,” he said.
“The increase in crime rate, for example: the father, who was shot last week in Gerehu, he was a husband, a father, I’m not supporting what he did, but I can tell you that he did what he did because of circumstances, he was trying to feed his family.”