Kerenga Kua questions government over grey listing

Member for Sinesine-Yongomugl, Kerenga Kua, has questioned the government in Parliament over the recent grey listing of Papua New Guinea by the global financial watchdog.

Mr Kua directed a series of questions to Prime Minister James Marape, saying the issue is now affecting the country’s reputation and could impact businesses and ordinary citizens.

He said the government had at least two years’ warning that PNG could be placed on the grey list but failed to take the necessary steps to prevent it.

Mr Kua asked the Prime Minister to explain to the nation why the country was grey listed and what actions the government will take to address the problem.

He also called on the government to publicly outline all the reasons that led to the grey listing and provide a clear plan to fix them.

According to Mr Kua, the government should also give a timeline showing when each issue will be addressed so that PNG can eventually be removed from the list.

He further asked the Prime Minister to explain the possible negative impacts of the grey listing on the country’s economy, including major resource projects, the value of the kina and Papua New Guinea’s international credit ratings.

Mr Kua said the issue is no longer just a matter for the government or financial institutions, but one that now affects all Papua New Guineans