Joblessness a ticking time bomb: MP

THE country’s high unemployment rate has been described as a ticking time-bomb, which may eventually lead young people to “revolt” in future, says Deputy Opposition Leader James Nomane.
“The lack of jobs and opportunity in society will cause youths to revolt,” he warned in a statement.
“We have the forests, we have the ocean, we have the land, we have the resources, yet we struggle. This paradox of so-rich-yet-so-poor continues. This is not because of some ailment, or disability. It is simply because of poor leadership and lack of management.”
The Chuave MP said jobless citizens would become a huge problem if the Government continued to ignore the country’s economic challenges.
He also urged Prime Minister James Marape to get his priorities right and appoint a treasurer immediately to resolve issues such as unemployment, foreign exchange (FX) shortages and high inflation in the country.
“The PNG economy is not a tucker-box,” he said.
“A competent treasurer must provide the country with an economic solution that will create 100,000 jobs, bring the price of 500g rice to K2 and a 340g of Ox and Palm to K5, and increase the FX ceiling to US$1 billion (about K3.8 billion) per month.”
Marape said in Parliament last month that the Government looked at “people’s employment rather empowerment where they engaged in economic activities”.
“We are growing employment along with the six big Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and mining projects coming on board, as well as our focus on agriculture,” Marape said.
Nomane said businesses in the country “have lost confidence”.
“Businesses are shutting down. Papua New Guineans are jobless. The cost of security has doubled (because of the Jan 10 civil unrest). We have not taken any decisive measures with law and order, or the economy, to mitigate the risk of business closure and exodus.
“The problems facing the economy are complex. This will require critical thinkers, competent managers, and leaders with vision to grapple with the issues and get the country back on track towards prosperity.”