21 May 2012

PNG's Morauta attacks Somare before bowing out of politics

6:01 am on 21 May 2012

On the eve of his retirement from politics, Papua New Guinea's former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta has taken a parting shot at his longtime adversary, Sir Michael Somare.

Sir Mekere says he's satisfied with the reforms he put in place while Prime Minister between 1999 and 2002.

He's credited with having stabilised government finances, a number of key public institutions and the economy from the verge of bankruptcy.

Sir Mekere says that subsequently, Sir Michael's last tenure as Prime Minister did little for the country.

"At a time when oil and gold and copper revenues (flowed). So in eight years he appropriated through the budget nearly sixty billion kina - one government for eight years - the result can't be seen."