We need backup plans

AMERICANS are now feeling the pinch of Covid-19 because President Donald Trump played it down.
He has now committed US$2trillion (K6.9tril) as a stimulus package to save the American economy.
Australia has announced a similar package in the vicinity of several billion dollars.
Other countries affected by the virus have similar packages.
PNG ranks very high on the corruption scale in the world, a position we have enjoyed for a very long time.
Past and recent governments have done nothing to eradicate this systematic disease and it is now part of life in PNG.
Politicians and bureaucrats have manipulated the system to their advantage while the small people (majority) continue to suffer.
A responsible government will have savings for unforseen circumstances just like an ordinary citizen would save for emergencies such as funeral expenses, school fees, medical bills, etc.
There was much talk about the sovereign wealth fund (SWF) and how is this thing progressing today?
There were over 600 shipments of LNG and where is the money from this?
Billions were spent on a sporting event and what did we achieve, nothing with some stadiums still incomplete.
We also hosted another big international event where billions again were spent.
Did we achieve anything? Did we account for the unnecessary expenditure on cars and hire of three cruise ships which were hardly used?
The Government carelessly spent huge amounts without tangible results.
Today we have a deadly virus which is affecting the entire world.
Powerful and developed countries have fallen victims and PNG is yet to confirm a case of an indigenous infected person.
PNG has a very weak public health system and infrastructure and manpower shortage which makes us more vulnerable to the virus than China or America.
We have a reckless lifestyle and the spread will be phenomenally high and our hospitals will not be able to contain.
The Government has no quarantine and treatment facilities to cater for say ten thousand infected persons. This is the real situation on the ground at the moment and while the SOE is on, people are not following simple instructions to avoid contact and spread of the virus even no confirmed case has been reported after the first one.
There are many views on coronavirus everywhere.
The real fact is thousands have died from it already and PNG needs to be on high alert.
We are sitting on a time bomb.
A week’s lockdown has caused some discomfort to many and any much longer than two weeks will be another disaster to the people apart from the virus itself.
Food shortages, increased costs of goods and services, increased criminal activities, running out of cash, etc.
Banks are relaxing their loan repayments for three months.
Superannuation funds should come up with a workable solution to assist contributors as part of the government’s economic stimulus package.
I suggest both funds remit between 15 to 20 per cent of the taxable component of member’s savings to respective member accounts.
Charge the normal tax which should go to the Government to fight this deadly virus.
Prime minister, this requires further talks with the two superfunds as you have commenced dialogue with them.
The sooner the better and we cannot wait for another case to be confirmed before taking action.
I am sure your economic advisers would do a better job at this.
The world will pay a huge price after the virus is contained and it is much safer to introduce buffers now when we are able.

Martin Mintai Waure,
Waigani