PNGBLOGS

by BRYAN KRAMER The short answer is, Yes. This is evident following the O'Neill Government’s delayed payments of the public servant salaries last Wednesday. I was first made aware of the issue a week earlier when an article was posted on social media explaining that public servants would not be paid on time due to cash-flow crisis and that the Government would blame it on the payroll system. A week later its what exactly transpired. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Secretary of Treasury Dairi Vele, and Secretary of Finance Dr Ken Ngangan all claimed the delay was due to the payroll system and nothing to do with being broke. Secretary of Treasury Vele issued a public statement, "Papua New Guinea is not broke!” He added that the economy was estimated to have grown by 9.9 per cent last year, driven by the ramp up of the full year of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. He further explained PNG’s economic growth was among the highest in the wor

by MICHAEL J PASSINGAN Prime Minister Peter O’Neill reckless, corrupt and unnecessary borrowing is hurting families and crippling the nation with debt that future generations must pay. In 2015 actual Government debt reached K18,571.40 per household under O’Neill. That number will increase with new borrowings proposed by the Prime Minister, including the $1 billion sovereign bond issue. Families must repay O’Neill’s debt whether they like it or not. Repayment will require new domestic revenue-raising and cost-savings: Higher personal and corporate taxes as well as a 50% increase in the GST Increases in SOE fees and charges such as O’Neill’s secret rises for all MVIL services including registration and insurance A further decline in government services and outsourcing of service provision to the Prime Minister’s colleagues and cronies A fire sale of government assets and equity including SOEs such as PNG Power and Air Niugini to the Prime Minister’s col