O’Neill: Funds marked for infrastructure will help nation

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill says he cannot understand why the opposition would not want a sizable portion of the national budget spent on infrastructure development in the country.

“I have travelled to most parts of PNG since becoming prime minister, and the story is the same everywhere. Our people are demanding new roads or upgrade of existing ones because they want access to the market,” he said.

“Our people want better seaports and improved airstrips. They want more classrooms and teachers’ houses because enrolment is increasing. 

They want health facilities.

“In NCD, our city roads are now so congested that it is affecting efficient operation of businesses, school children and public servants.

“If opposition MP Tobias Kulang cannot see this, he must be on another planet.

“The concern about the state of our infrastructure is such that the joint PNG-Australia Business Council made it the theme for their seminar which is under way in Port Moresby now. 

“Kulang should find time in his busy schedule to attend this seminar so he can appreciate the worries raised by our business sector.

“The six NCD road projects cabinet approved last week will cost K700 million over three years. K400 million of this will come from 2013, 2014 and 2015 budgets while K300 million will be made available from the concessional loan from the EXIM Bank of China.

“The projected budget deficit for 2013 will not be affected, nor will the debt to GDP ratio,” O’Neill said. 

“We are simply answering the call of our people and our business community by directing a sizable portion of our budget to infrastructure development.

“Why would Mr Kulang not want us to do this?”