Opposition Leader Don Polye called the Government caucus ‘economy illiterate leaders’ in yesterday’s session of Parliament.
He made the statement after being heckled by the Government caucus when questioning Prime Minister Peter O’Neill on the financing of APEC 2018 in PNG.
Polye asked O’Neill on the actual figure the Government was spending on the APEC Summit and was moving to his second question when the government coalition interjected with comments and boos.
“Shut up and listen!” shouted Polye.
He further stated: “You don’t understand the economy, you listen. You economy illiterate leaders in this house.”
The floor erupted with laughter from the Opposition and even more heckling from the Government.
Polye continued and asked the Prime Minister of the cost-benefit analysis of hosting the event.
He also asked if the economy was resilient enough for the event, which will only host the world leaders for only a few hours.
O’Neill’s initial response was also met with jeering from the Opposition over a sarcastic remark about the Opposition Leader.
“Mi tenkim gutpla Oposisen Lida, save man, na man igat traipla tingting na toktok lo disla kantri ah?” said O’Neill. (I thank the good Opposition Leader, an intelligent man, and a man who has a lot of thought for this country.)
He said the misinformation presented by the Opposition was beyond a joke.
Though not directly answering the questions posed, O’Neill rather highlighted why PNG should host the event, firstly stating that PNG was the only APEC member economy that hasn’t played host yet.
“There comes a time in the country’s history that we must showcase who we are,” said O’Neill.
He said it was shameful that the Opposition called for the cancellation of such international events for political point scoring.
O’Neill said the Government was not building any new infrastructure except the APEC House at Ela Beach in Port Moresby, while the private sector was investing in building hotels.
He added that it is a great opportunity for the country to benefit from the APEC member economies, which control 50 percent of world trade.
(Loop PNG file picture)