New Govt told to fix key issues

The National National

DIRECTOR of the National Research Institute (NRI) Dr Osborne Sanida says the 11th Parliament will need to address some key issues like law and order early.
Among them, Sanida said, were:

  • GETTING the population census done because we are using a 11-year-old census;
  • MAKING sure all Papua New Guineans benefit from economic growth;
  • REFORMING the electoral system;
  • FIXING law and order problems; and,
  • STRENGTHENING the sub-national government system.

“I am saying the new Parliament rather than the new Government because I believe both the government and the Opposition, who are part of the Parliament, have very important roles to play,” he said.
Sanida said considering the last population census was carried out in 2011, we have been using guesstimates in different areas in policy making and planning.
He pointed out that economic growth only benefitted those who owned factors of production (land, labour, capital and technology), which contributed to the growth of the nation’s economy.
He said majority of the country’s population depended on subsistence economy and had limited opportunities for income-earning, if they were to benefit from a cash economy system, then investing in broad-based economic growth was a must.
“By creating opportunities for work or otherwise, to a larger part of the population, more people will be involved in generating an income and benefit from the system they are helping to contribute in.”
Sanida recommends that the micro and small to medium enterprise policy must be effectively implemented in the new term of parliament in order for everyone to actively take part in and contribute to the market/system.
“As the bulk of the population still live in rural areas out in the provinces, there is a need to empower the people at the sub-national level to take charge of their own economic and social development,” he said.
“Another reason why the broad-based growth agenda must be achieved is to increase government revenue, to not only meet its budget plans but also to address growing public debt.”

Govt will continue focus on education sector, Marape says

By YVONNE KAMBIBEL
PRIME Minister James Marape has highlighted the Government’s plans to reform the education sector in the country.
Marape said in terms of education the Government needed to ensure that no child was left behind.
He also emphasised the importance of expansion at all levels of education from kindergarten to tertiary. “Every citizen must be economically productive,” he said, adding that agriculture and business should be taught in schools to enable students direct entry into small to medium enterprises (SME).
“We must integrate Flexible Open and Distant Education (Fode) formal school arrangement and ensure that they follow the same pathway to the tertiary level of education.”