Pruaitch calls on MPs to vote O’Neill out

The country can only be saved from the authoritarian style leadership of the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill if he is changed in a vote of no-confidence, Opposition leader Patrick Pruaitch says.
Pruaitch called on members of parliament to use their conscience to remove O’Neill through a vote of no-confidence to save the nation.
He said O’Neill’s authoritarian style of leadership stifled the voices of other elected leaders.
Pruaitch said the prime minister’s style of leadership threatens democracy and the country’s economy.
“During the O’Neill-Dion government, PNG descended into very damaging economic policies of a bloated budget and PNG’s largest borrowing and deficits ever, making investments in areas such as Oil Search, which was of no value whatsoever to the people of Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“These are perilous times for Papua New Guinea.
“The government’s continued mismanagement of the economy has impacted our people directly.
“We must make a stand as their elected leaders.
“The prime minister can selectively use economic indicators to create a misleading impression (that) we are ok, but this just confirms he doesn’t live in the same world as the average Papua New Guineans.
“He clearly has no idea of the struggles faced by families all over the nation. He is out of touch.
“As parliamentarians, we cannot make decisions based on what portfolio we have been promised, or what committee we will be appointed to.
“There comes a point when our own conscience must prevail. I for one, cannot continue to see my people suffer.
“This prime minister has continuously put the interests of cronies, and multi-nationals before the interests of his own people and the processes of Government.
“It’s true – the rich are getting richer, while the rest struggle to survive.”