PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill has blamed poor leadership over the past 36 years for the dilapidated state of basic services in rural areas of the 89 districts in the country.
 “PNG has been boosted by economic growth but there is nothing tangible to show for in terms of services delivery in the provinces and districts, because of bad leadership in the previous governments,” he said.
He was visiting Kundiawa, Chimbu province, on Saturday to launch impact development projects.
He said PNG was politically independent but not economically independent until 2014 when the LNG project would come on line.
O’Neill said government’s  major priorities were education, health, law and order, fighting corruption, improving infrastructure and strengthening the economy.
“Three-quarters of the population are youths. We must give them the chance to get good education. Free education will continue after the elections,” he said.
O’Neill urged the people to elect good leaders during the national election.
He arrived in the province for the second time in less than a week after visiting Chuave district where the national convention of his Peoples National Congress Party in Goroka was held recently.