PEOPLE'S PARTY INC
People's Party Policy Statement 2020-2027
Putting People First
PILLAR 3:
Improve Transport, ICT, Energy, Housing and WASH Infrastructure
Having a quality network of sustainable infrastructure network throughout our districts will enable constant flow of essential goods and services, access to communication, banking, electricity and water supply.
Key infrastructure challenges still remain for having a reliable and sustainable land, water and air transport. since PNG’s political Independence, our towns and districts still lack key infrastructures on water and sanitation, information and communication technology and housing (for public servants). Effective delivery of goods and services (PMVs, ships, planes) and thriving socio-economic activities depend entirely on good and quality roads, jetties, wharves, and airstrips.
The Marape – Davis (now, Marape – Basil) Government under the MTDP III designed
and launched the first ever Connect PNG Program that will connect all provinces of PNG. Those are the vital missing link roads, major sea ports and airports in the country.
Policy Pillar 3.1: Improve Transport Infrastructure
Linking the nation with improved transport infrastructure network is a key and fundamental component for development. Access to better and improved roads, bridges, airports, jetties and sea ports are pivotal for development where essential goods and services are delivered to the majority of our rural population.
​
The livelihood of our people is improved when majority of our people are able to receive services by travelling to and from rural areas, district and provincial centres to access health care, education, markets and banking services.
Key Strategic Areas
PILLAR 3.1: IMPROVE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
1.
To ensure existing infrastructures are maintained or rehabilitated to agreed standards.
2.
Identify and build new roads, bridges, airports, jetties and sea ports in provinces, districts, LLGs that need it.
3.
To introduce an effective Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs) policy and management framework where PMVs are clean, safe and reliable.
4.
Make sure that Papua New Guinea is one day fully connected through all this vital infrastructural development to enable accessibility to all rural communities.
Policy Pillar 3.2: Home Ownership Assistance Scheme Becomes a Condition of Employment
Housing is basic human right according to the UN Declarations. Home ownership assistance must become part of employment conditions in both the public and private Sectors. PNG’s public servants and those who work in the private sector continues to face housing issues. Over the years housing has become a problem for employees and up to now the issue is not seriously addressed by our government.
People’s Party strongly believes that assisting employees into home ownership becomes a condition of employment for a new graduate to those already employed in the workforce of this country.
A good portion of the employee’s salary is spent on accommodation rental especially in urban suburbs and settlements; income tax of approximately 35%; and10% GST on goods and services. Employees barely survive on a fortnightly salary. This is not how we should treat our people.
​
Every employee in public and private sector automatically becomes a member of a superannuation funds; Nambawan Supa for Public Servants and Nasfund for private sector.
​
The employee’s pay is deducted to the super funds immediately from their first fortnight and continues as long as he/she is employed in the workforce. The deduction is ordinarily for retirement benefits should an employee leave a job, is terminated from employment or deceased. However, this super fund can also be tapped to build a house for an employee, with the employer doing fortnightly deductions from the employees pay to go towards their home. When the employee retires from work, he/she will have ownership of a home, instead of paying out cash lump sums.
Key Strategic Areas
PILLAR 3.2: HOME OWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE SCHEME BECOMES A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT
1.
Review all laws governing employment condition in the Public Service & Private Sector and ensure home ownership assistance becomes a condition of employment.
2.
Review all laws with super funds on retirement savings for super funds to build house for contributors.
Policy Pillar 3.3: Make WASH a Major Policy of Government
WASH Policy and approaches to achieving national targets have been haphazard and uncoordinated. As a result, access to improved water sources and safe sanitation has been declining in recent years as services fail to keep up with population growth and demand.
The PNG government committed 2 million Kina to each all of the 89 districts and 22 provinces as Covid -9 response funds in the 2021 budget. Out of this amount 1/4 of the allocation was spent entirely on WASH program which was just a one-off intervention. Such commitment from the government is not likely to continue unless we take the responsibility seriously to make WASH a major government policy with annual and recurrent budgetary allocation.
Key Strategic Areas
PILLAR 3.3: Make WASH a Major Policy of Government
1.
Make WASH a major government policy with annual budget allocations.
2.
Establish water quality standards and delegated responsibility for monitoring and regulation vested in the NDOH.
3.
Give the PNG Water Board the responsibility for providing clean and safe piped water and sanitation in urban areas including all Primary and Secondary schools in the country.
4.
Give the power to provincial governments to make laws on rural water supply and environmental hygiene
Policy Pillar 3.4: ICT and Energy are a Foundation for Economic Growth
Access to electricity, information technology and increased communication capacity brings major benefits to a society. New business opportunities emerge, as do opportunities for education. Access to reliable electricity and ICT can increase productivity, broaden capacity as well as creativity and fuel economic growth.
The adoption and use of the ICT has increased significantly in the past due to internet connectivity and greater access to smart phones. However, dissemination of important government programs and information to the masses of our rural population through radio has been declining over the years. The same is true for the PNG energy sector which is characterised by very low access and unreliable and expensive services.
​
PNG is one of the least electrified countries in the world with only 13% of the population having access to electricity. Electricity via a grid is limited to urban centres and is unreliable. Non profitability and funding shortfalls means PNG Power Ltd struggles to pay private electricity providers and to upgrade its aging infrastructure is a near impossible task. A lack of reliable, affordable electricity is hurting PNGs economic growth.
​
Much is needed to be done in both the ICT and Energy Sectors to lift our ratings and to lay a solid foundation for economic growth.