Ruling party to bring ‘economic independence’ to people

The National National

THE ruling Pangu Pati plans to bring “economic independence” to the people so that they become self-sufficient, and the country to have a welfare-support system, says party leader James Marape.
“Pangu’s contributions to nationhood and nation-building are colossal and historic” Marape, the Prime Minister, said at the party’s 26th national convention in Port Moresby.
“Pangu played a major role in the push for self-government and independence. It also had a big hand in the formulation of (our) Constitution.
“It gave PNG its first prime minister.
“It established a democratic system of government that the people of PNG enjoy today.
“It established the economic framework that is now Papua New Guinea.
“And some of our founding fathers were members of Pangu Pati.”
He said the end of the political independence era was the passing of the country’s “founding father”, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare in February this year.
He said today, Pangu was once again “at the wheel leading the country”.
“Our scope of responsibility has now changed.
“We delivered to Papua New Guinea a smooth bloodless political independence.
“Now we must deliver economic independence – something also envisaged by our founding Pangu fathers yet could not be reached because of so many forces and influences at play.”
He outlined Pangu’s achievements and policy-based programmes including:

  • BUDGET repair, revenue and economic growth;
  • AGRICULTURE and MSME policy;
  • SPECIAL Economic Zones;
  • STATE-owned enterprise reforms;
  • INTERNAL revenue and tax law reforms;
  • A trade-oriented foreign policy;
  • PUBLIC sector restructure and payroll audit;
  • RESOURCE law reforms;
  • LAND law reforms;
  • HOUSING and urbanisation;
  • CONNECT Papua New Guinea;
  • HIGHER education loan programme;
  • REBUILDING national integrity systems against corruption;
  • PRICE support for major commodities;
  • DOWNSTREAMING processing;
  • CIVIL and identity registry system; and,
  • AUTONOMOUS Region of Bougainville and Emergency Services.