Work in unity, restore confidence

THE current political impasse cannot be tolerated during this economic crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 pandemic is taking its toll on the global economy with adverse effects on smaller and weaker economies such as Papua New Guinea.
This can be reflected through high inflation with sliding kina value and soaring prices of basic goods and services making it highly competitive for investment in PNG.
This contributed to the loss of investors’ confidence due to high cost of liability thus forcing many investors to wind down operations forcing many out of employment.
This has increased the unemployment rate in PNG.
The implications are immense affecting every sector of the economy.
We have base line and sustainable economies such as agriculture and small to medium enterprises which had been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Government is coming up with smart and manipulative political strategies to reap the people through fraudulent and deceitful tax schemes.
The increasing tax strategies as reflective of high investment tax, corporate tax, income tax, GST, and VAT are indicative of critical government recovery strategy to stabilise the economy which of course is an unfair and unfriendly situation for the very people who mandated these politicians into power.
Amid the Covid-19 challenges, we have escalating law and order issues across the country that threatens investor’s confidence and discouraging investment opportunities within the SME sector.
This is a critical situation that the Government needs to consider within all levels of leadership.
I call on both sides of the floor to stop this tussle and work together for the common good of the people.
You were mandated by the people, and therefore you have an obligation to serve the people with the highest honour, integrity and respect as a mandated leader.
It is time to stand up as leaders, and stop jumping from seat to seat looking for power and political gain which does not truly represents the interest of the people.

Deej Sniper,
Port Moresby