100 DAYS RECOVERY PLAN SHOULD NOT INCLUDE INCOME TAX

by DR JAMES NAIPAO, National Doctors Association President

The '100 DAYS RECOVERY PLAN' announced by the O'Neill-Abel Government in the 10th Parliament must not include increases in the INCOME TAX. This is an absolute NO. Income Tax in PNG is paid by a small working population in the Public and Private Sector, respectively. The majority of the 8-10 million PNGeans do not pay the income tax. Why crucifying the minority.

Any VAT/GST increases will also further burdenise the workers and eat into their purse. This too is an ABSOLUTE NO if the O'Neill-Abel Government plans on hiking it.

These two economic recovery plans if the current government is planning on taking them on board should be shelved because there will be an 'all out fall out with reproaching consequences'.

The continuous blame on the global down turn of the economy may be the reason but to excessively borrow with the knowledge of the global effect is unfounded. There should be a shift on the so called 'Boomerang Loans'. More damage has been done in the last Parliament.

PNG is waiting to hear the recovery plan.

The 100 Days Recovery Plan should include the following;

1. Do not harm Health,
2. Do not harm Education,
3. Rehabilitate the main economic highways and ports,
4. Avoid new infrastructure developments such as the unnecessary fly-overs. Major sporting facilities developments cramped into the city of Port Moresby is enough for the country for now,etc,
5. How stringent are we monitoring our seas and forest for illegal fishing and forest harvesting, respectively,
6. Cut down on 'Inflated Contract Awarding Syndrome' that is deeply rooted in PNG. Fast wealth is created for people involved in these dealings however, to write an inspiring story on how they created their wealth, a phlegm will be stuck in their throats and they even won't think of writing one,
7. Increase tourists to visit the country in numbers by reducing the cost of airfares and hotel/motel/guest house accommodations,
8. Increase the PNGean populace to visit Provinces by reducing the cost of airfares within PNG. Accommodation cost too should be reduced. For 7 and 8, it would be interesting to know the occupancy rates of the airline industry and the accommodation industry, respectively,
9. Encourage PNGeans to get involved in SMEs. Right now, Asians (Indian, Bangladesh, Malaysia and China) are heavily involved in the SME Industry reserved for PNGeans,
10. Invest massively in Agriculture. Reviving this sector is over due. Agriculture is the backbone for the country. Not copper, gold or gas and oil can replace Agriculture,
11. Foreign ownership of business must be shared. Nationals to own 60% and foreigners to own 40%,
12. No Land must be owned by foreigners. They should only lease it!,
13. All Mining Industries in the metal, oil and gas sector businesses in PNG, GoPNG must get 30% of what is sold, Provincial Government where the mine is located should get 20%, Landowners 10% and the operator of the mine 40%. The foreign mining companies does not own any resources in the country,
15. Cut out the 'Boomerang Loan'. Boomerang Loan means that the country gets a Bank Loan, and, that bank will then want its own developer to be given the contract. Deal is done. The country repays the Loan, the contractor completes the project, and the money returns overseas, and PNG loses in two folds. It is happening in front of us. Who knows if cuts are planned along the path of this kind of deals,
16. Less than 13% of the population is employed. The majority are not. These 13% must be encouraged to be wealth creators than become only consumers. The point mentioned in 9 is the way forward,
17. Invest in the Human Resources for the Mining, Agriculture and Building Industries, respectively. One day, PNG will harvest its own resources and money kept in PNG,
18. Support Research and Innovation Works in PNG.
19. Do away with the DSIP and PSIP Funds. A study must be conducted in the districts and provinces on the effectiveness and viability of the huge funds,
20. Encourage Home Ownership Schemes for both the Public and Private Sector,
21. Freeze deforestation. Keep the forest in PNG as virgin as possible. For doing this, ask the well developed nations to pay the PNG Government for keeping the forests alive on the planet. Landowners will still benefit from this deal,
22. Australia is a dry continent. PNG is blessed with great fresh waters rivers on the planet. Piping fresh water to Australia would be a life long investment for PNG beside Human Resource Development and Agriculture,
23. Reduce Population Growth. An economy that is not developing and growing will put a strain on the expenditure with an increase in the Annual Population Growth Rate,
24. Fight corruption. Law and Order must be a priority for the government,
25. Independence of the Tri-colour Disciplinary Forces, Judiciary and Ombudsman must be strictly adherent,
26. Huge Legal Bills paid to Private Legal Firms must be assessed and rectified,
27. Stop giving top jobs to wantoks and unqualified who do not qualify for a seat he or she is selected to occupy. Such action is full of sinuousness,
28. Let us not bury our traditional heritage and culture. That is our wealth,
29. Develop Human Resource for the overseas market,
30. Increase tax on Alcohol, cigarettes and gambling,
31. Public - Private Partnership must not milk the public purse.
32. Rising import duties may lead to less consumers of a product. Care must be taken on this.

It is a hope that these recovery measures will be looked at

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