MY CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE TO UNITECH STUDENTS

by unknown writer

Transformation PNG WhatsApp Post

Port Moresby

28th March, 2025

We deeply respect our Children at our Pioneer Institutions, the UPNG, UNITECH, UOG and the rest. Our Children must not be sacrificed and used as tool for political gains of few but they must be thoroughly put into perspective with truthfulness.

Marape-Rosso government is doing its best for the country by amending monumental laws that will transform this country moving away colonial era charting new path for growth. Resources laws, laws in safety & security, laws in taxation and national gain, laws in political Stability, laws in transparency and good governance, etc.

Building the economy and creating jobs besides the challenges of inflation and pgk depreciation. Within the country, we have self induced challenges of law and order diminishing investors confidence chasing our business and government services, yet blaming government and people in authority.

Many things we can fix ourselves as people, not just throwing blame games.

Some concerns raised by children are answering by government, but many of which can be answered by people who had been following government decisions.

I can put some of the points into perspective that were raised by UNITECH students as I am one of the graduands of United Mining Engineering:

• For PGK depreciation, government had forewarned before floating PGK, estimate depreciation target was 16% at the time pgk was hovering at US$0.30.

  
  

• for the subject of national debt. Government is not seen as reckless, the government is fiscally responsible to hover debt:gdp ratio below 60% threshold. Government is responsibly managing deficit to reach balanced budget in 2027, current deficit at -2.2%.

  
  

• Facebook will be monitored under Domestic Terrorism Act, though it is a qualified rights PNG citizens, police has the authority under Domestic terrorism Act to protect lives of innocents and minors, unfortunate people. Government cannot let liberties of our people be threatened while under protection of free speech, therefore social media be controlled to be used in rightful ways.

  
  

• Marape-Rosso government is phasing out colonial tax laws that favoured foreign hands holding tight grip on our countries wealth. The time was right for us to change tax laws. This government is more into cutting tax; abolished GSTs on basic household items (13 of them), cut tariffs on imported goods, and even increased tax threshold from K11000 to K20000. If your fortnightly wages is K750, you will not be taxed, before this was K440. No government in the past had balls to do it these things.

  
  

• s.145 amendment was for government stability. Stable government means, good policy implementations and economic growth. A country can not survive by changing government every parliament seating after VONC had been overcome by one government.

  
  

• Prime Minister appeared State Witness for Paraka saga, not anyone time our Prime minister will evade until every stones are turned. The case is subjudice at this stage and Hon Prime Minister James Marape is a State Witness

  
  

• There is no new speakers position created, the parliament has speaker and assistant speaker position only. Assistant speakers are utilised when the two are in absentia. What's floating on the media are lies and mischief please don't buy to it.

  
  

• Black Wednesday was unprecedented and unfortunate in our countries history. No responsible government will allow for that and enquiry ongoing until every stones are turned. Black Wednesday is not the government’s doing, all parties involved will come clear when all the investigations are done. Black Wednesday killed investors confidence, loss revenues and lost jobs. Leaders who encouraged Black Wednesday must hold office either mandate or appointed.

  
  

• The gold bullion bill 2024 was shelved in June 2024, but PNG must have one that will 100% benefit PNG. Government is in support of refining gold bullion that will 100% benefit PNG. The one which was questioned by public is shelved.

  
  

• While people living in Towns and cities seem Connect-PNG a scam, our rural communities see it relieving intervention from their struggles. Opening our unfortunate people to the economy. From technical perspective, every K1 invested, the return will be K4. For K10 billion invested, the return will be K40 billion in medium to long term

  
  

• Every DDA must acquit every toea spent from DSIP. Any electorate who does not see development must bring up their complaints with Ombudsman Commission. It is your 100% entitled money from government.

  
  

• Central Provincial hospital was blocked by Central Governor herself while government stood ready to support new infrastructure.

  
  

• current law & order situation demand for repealing internal security Act 1992 to Counter Terrorism Act 2024. Low police resources at 1:1850 police to civilian ratio required tougher powers for police to quell escalating law & order. Law & order issues killing investors confidence in our country. We need strong police force enforced by law and Marape-Rosso government enforced what the country badly needed. For questions on Internal Terrorism Act 2025.

  
  

• For Christian Bill: PNG is one nation made up of 800 different Nations. For us to survive as one Nation, we must have one common belief to live together as Christian brothers and Sisters. Christianity brought civilization to this part of the world therefore it was fitting to recognise God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and Holy Spirit in the preamble of our Constitution. One common belief system will keep this country together, different conflicting belief system will divide our country. Passing Christian Bill was for the good and longevity of this country. Smart ideas, wisdom, blessings and protection comes from our creator.

  
  

• Porgera is the major gain for our country. PNG owns 51% share unlike 5% before. The deal was struck at price sensitivity margin of US$1600/oz, today the gold price is US$3000 which is 100% over the sensitivity margin. This simply implies that payback period will be sliced by 100%. So if Porgera attains full production capacity, the 10 year payback period will be reduced to less than 5 years. The focus of Porgera and Enga people with PNG government is to carefully allow porgera to reach maximum production capacity.

  
  

• Import substitution is Marape-Rosso Government brainchild and government is focused in investing in Agriculture by dividing and aligning portfolios. Driving investments in Agriculture such as Rigo rice coming on the market, increased emphasis on coffee, cocoa, oil palm, etc. Go access national Agriculture Sustainability plan 2024 to 2030. Government is driving Downstream processing of timber, fisheries and other commodities.

Politicians and learned people out there, we must carefully and truthfully teach our young generations. Don't feed them with half baked false narratives to discredit government and good hard working people sweating their gutts for our country.

Our children are learning and we must teach them to be useful and productive, problem solvers, innovative, etc.

Let's not teach them to be day dreamers spending all day and night on social media.

We have graduated from PNG UNITECH 10 to 20 years back then, our days were tough. But based on the lessons learned we are trying to do the best for you and for our children.

We have our country in our heart, together we will test every levers available and adopt those that will work for us.

Our encouragement to our students is to work hard to be innovative and become fruitful man and woman in your lives.

Hope the above answers will give you ease of mind but pray that God will give you more wisdom and intelligence.

Together we will build better PNG.

GOD BLESS PNG