PNG Economic Claims by government Questioned, Nomane Calls for Accountability
PNG is being misled by economic claims that do not reflect the country’s real conditions, Opposition MP James Nomane says. He argued that despite positive rhetoric from the government, the fundamentals show rising debt, stalled projects and limited progress in major sectors that should be driving recovery.
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| PNG Economic Claims by government Questioned as Nomane Calls for Accountability |
Nomane criticised Prime Minister James Marape for repeatedly shifting responsibility for present challenges onto the previous administration. He said the continuing medicine shortage is a clear example of the government’s inability to confront its own policy failings.
He contrasted this with the O’Neill administration’s tenure, recalling that between 2011 and 2019 the country saw major infrastructure construction and stronger growth driven by the PNG LNG project. According to Nomane, investment in roads, airports, schools and hospitals contributed to what he described as a period of visible national improvement.
He said current claims of diversification, non-resource sector expansion and fiscal consolidation rely too heavily on endorsements from multilaterals. Nomane noted that both the World Bank and IMF have signalled ongoing fragility, with the IMF warning that the economy is “billions of Kina smaller than it should be.”
Debt levels now exceeding K65 billion and interest payments above K3.5 billion are absorbing funds needed for essential services, he added. He said deficits have remained high, while foreign exchange shortages and regulatory uncertainty have pushed away potential investors.
Nomane said delays to Papua LNG and Wafi-Golpu, weak FDI and persistent inflation contradict promises of transformation. High food prices, he said, continue to burden families despite GST exemptions, with the BPNG warning that government borrowing is limiting credit for SMEs.
He urged the Prime Minister to demonstrate leadership by releasing expenditure reports and addressing national challenges head-on. “We need the Prime Minister to stop playing the blame game and admit to his failures and take extreme ownership of the mess that his government has created,” Nomane said.
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