On the eve of the national elections in Papua New Guinea, the financial ratings house Standard and Poors has revised the country's outlook from negative to stable.
S & P said with higher commodity prices PNG's external metrics are likely to improve, and so strengthen the country's fiscal position.
It has re-affirmed the credit rating at B-/B but lifted the outlook.
Photo: RNZ
The company said the stable outlook reflects its assumptions that fiscal consolidation efforts and policies included in an International Monetary Fund programme will continue over the next year.
It says this will help to narrow fiscal deficits and stabilise the country's debt burden.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner David Manning is calling for the media to work closely with the security forces to deliver free, fair, and safe national elections.
Papua New Guineans go to the polls in July.
Manning said security forces can deliver a safe and successful election as long as the media is disseminating correct and timely information.
The Deputy Commissioner Operations, Anton Billie, has accused one of the national daily newspapers of bias and misreporting on the state of police readiness for the poll.
Mr Billie said an article, in the unnamed newspaper, was not only irresponsible but reckless in its reporting.
