@samsonhone: 🇵🇬 PM MARAPE CHALLENGES FORMER PM O’NEILL TO PUBLIC DEBATE ON ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT PORT MORESBY, FRIDAY, 6 NOVEMBER 2026 — Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has challenged former Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill to a nationally televised public debate at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) to compare their respective records of economic management. The proposed debate would compare Mr O’Neill’s six years in office from 2012 to 2018 with Prime Minister Marape’s six years from 2020 to 2025, excluding the transition year of 2019. “Numbers do not lie. Let the numbers speak for themselves, and let the people of Papua New Guinea decide who has been the better economic manager,” Prime Minister Marape said. He proposed that the debate focus on key economic indicators, including: • Economic growth and the size of the economy; • Government debt and debt-to-GDP ratios; • Budget deficits, revenue and expenditure; • Employment creation and unemployment; • Foreign direct investment; • The value of the kina and foreign exchange availability; and • International foreign currency reserves. Prime Minister Marape said the debate should be independently moderated at UPNG, with students, academics, economists, business leaders and the public invited to attend. It should also be broadcast live on television and digital platforms so Papua New Guineans throughout the country can follow the discussion. “Instead of arguing through the media, let us sit together in a properly moderated public debate and compare the economic statistics from his six years in office and my six years in office,” he said. The Prime Minister said both leaders should personally defend their economic records without consultants or advisers. “Mr O’Neill is an accountant and a successful businessman. I do not claim to be an economist. I am a practitioner of common sense, and I am prepared to defend my government’s economic record.” He said UPNG was an appropriate venue because both leaders were former students of the university. Prime Minister Marape said he was ready to participate at the earliest mutually convenient date. “No consultants, no advisers — just Peter O’Neill and James Marape defending their respective records. “Let the numbers speak, and let the people be the judges.” #PNG #JamesMarape #PeterONeill #EconomicManagement #UPNG

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Friday 06 November 2026 00:28:11 GMT