Parliamentary Opposition is urging the government to listen to the voices of Papua New Guineans who are calling for a change

 By Malon Ere | PNG SUN|

As the Vote-of-No-onfidence (VoNC) against Prime Minister James Marape is looming, the Parliamentary Opposition is urging the government to listen to the voices of Papua New Guineans who are calling for a change.

Former Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, in a press conference today in Port Moresby, bluntly called on PM Marape to resign from office.

This called was labelled by Pangu Party as 'rubbish and baseless.'

It, he said, is clear that the country has changed over the past six years.

O’Neill pointed out that during Marape’s leadership, global prices for key commodities like coffee, cocoa, gold, copper, oil, and gas have been high. “As a result, government revenue has increased,” he said.

However, O’Neill criticized the government, saying the increase in revenue does not reflect the reality of the country’s situation. “We still run a deficit budget of 4% to 5% every year.

The government continues to spend more than it plans,” he said.

He also claimed that the current government has taken loans totaling up to K17 billion, which he says will be a burden on future generations.

According to O’Neill, no new foreign investment has entered the country in the last six years.

He added that both social and economic indicators show poor performance. “Education standards are falling, health services are nearly non-existent, and basic services are not reaching many communities, towns, and cities,” he said.

“There is also a total breakdown in law and order,” O’Neill added, referring to the growing number of crimes reported daily in the media.

He warned that the country’s population is growing fast, with some estimates suggesting a 4% annual increase, which contributes to high unemployment.

O’Neill reflected on his own time as Prime Minister, saying he stepped down after listening to the people. “It was not an easy decision, but I felt I was doing the right thing,” he said.

He also spoke about the importance of Pangu Pati in the nation’s history. He urged government MPs to act with integrity. “The people gave you the power. Now it’s time to listen to them and act,” he said.

He stated that Prime Minister Marape has much more to contribute to the country but for now the people have lost confidence in him. “Let someone else lead until the 2027 election,” he suggested.

“There is no shame in resigning. It takes strength and courage to know when to step down,” O’Neill said.

In closing, he called on Marape to take responsibility during the VoNC process. “We are happy for change to happen from within. There are good leaders on the government side, and they must stand up for the country,” he said.