‘Loans spent on infrastructure’

FORMER Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, responding to complaints by the current government about the loans he took during his reign, says: “I invested those monies to what was needed by our people.”
“Since Independence in 1975, until when I took over government, PNG’s budget deficit stood at K8 billion.
“When I took over, I increased that to K20 billion, with most of that money invested into infrastructure.
“I can name all those projects we implemented all over the country.”
O’Neill during his party’s candidate announcement for the Moresby North-West seat, Dr Thaddeus Kambanei, reminded the people what his government had done during his tenure as prime minister between 2011 and 2019.
The People’s National Congress (PNC) party leader told the people about the infrastructural development his government had done.
He assured the people that there was no doubt they would see those infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals further developed should PNC return to power after the general election.
“I am happy to support Dr Thaddeus as I had worked with him for 20 years, and am aware of his vast experience in managing public offices,” O’Neill said.
“I am aware of his loyalty, his credibility and is a God-fearing person.”
O’Neill also said that with Kambanei’s credibility, if elected into parliament, it would attract foreign investors to work with people like him.
“We want to see our people be employed, earn wages so that they can look after their families.”
O’Neill had repeatedly spoken about the bad state the country was in let alone the economy and it needed to be rescued.
He had told The National that health and education systems among others were also “collapsing”.
Many hospitals around the country are struggling to have basic medicine and equipment, he had said. He stressed on giving confidence to the business community which seemed to have been lacking.
Last week in Lae, Marape dared O’Neill to take him on in a live public debate to show what he had done during his eight-year term.
Marape said he was willing to debate with the former prime minister (O’Neill) at either University of PNG or University of Technology.
“I will bring my three years to the table, O’Neill will bring any three years to his table, where we will talk about inflation, loans and what we have achieved.”