National Budget is a disappointment

I watched both television broadcasts of Government’s 2022 Budget presentation by Treasurer Minister Ian Ling-Stuckey and this is what I have to say.
This is the worst National Budget presentation we have ever come across.
The good treasurer’s Budget speech contained verbal diarrhoea, lies and praised the Government who have totally lost the plot over the last 2-3 years.
Marape’s Government has really nothing to show for in terms of national development progress.
The Government was taking credit for former prime minister Peter O’Niell’s government’s achievements leading up to next year’s general elections, we all knew that.
The treasurer’s speech contained many cover up items and did not mention anything about the PNG economic recovery plans in detail.
Instead, it was based their budget assumptions on dream project agreements and predicting unforseen futures for this country which is really bad.
Over the last three years, the current coalition Government was surviving and managing our country on both international and domestic loans and failed to fast track many of our resource development projects and provision of employment opportunities for our citizens.
If one takes a closer look, you will witness thousands and thousands of school leavers, college and university graduates coming out every year but there are no jobs for them.
The Government should seriously consider downstream processing and claiming ownership rights of all our national resource, including first gold bullion refinery instead of signing for a 50-50 share agreement with any foreign investors.
Our political leaders and public service bureaucrats should develop an attitude of putting our country and people first by putting more money into development projects that can put our economy back on tracks and move us forward.
Lastly, let me say this, no government plans and dreams will eventuate or become fruitful unless honesty and truth prevails and sets us free, meaning our political leaders must learn to fear God Almighty and the people of this nation by being honest and truthful in delivery of their tasks, duties and responsibilities.
In conclusion, the Government’s 2022 Budget spells disaster for many of our people throughout the country as we continue to suffer everywhere these days.

Samson C Napo
Former Bulolo MP