@pngnatives: 🇵🇬 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

Willie Charlie :

He actually did a good job (Hon_Peter_Oniel), I bought fuel for K2:90 per_liter back then.

zevduns :

U la challengim PO lo debate[Laugh approved][Laugh approved][Laugh approved][Laugh approved][Laugh approved][Laugh approved]PO bin PM u bin Finance Minister that time so who is responsible now??? [Laugh approved][Laugh approved][Laugh approved]

Karlzberg93👊🙏👊 :

Peter O'Neil Dinau na m developments kamap you Dinau nothing happened with in the 6 years.. Just step down 👇

Awa Choll :

So freaking low for a PM to do this kind of Video. Ah please 😭💔💔💔💔

Rustyhuru :

PO don't even accept the challange. This is a stunt and politically motivated. It's not for the people.

TOSHU➖ :

inap yah...see current situation we are in now...fuel crisis, power issues, inflation and many more compared to O'Neil government..yu go worse olgeta than O'Neil...

Cain TKasindii Kopz :

PO kism dina na depolopim country and JM dina na nogat wanpla samtin kamap lo country. too much assurance with scam.

leavelong :

prime minister stepdown.

dhen :

we don't need numbers to know, we can literally know what is happening

Mr. Morgan FateLa :

Can't you see people are suffering. We need a new Vibrant PM to lead us come 2027 NGE...

Humphries_101 :

Peter O’Neil borrowed money but he improved infrastructure in PNG and brought more business. Look at the current situation we’re in, people of Papua New Guinea are suffering way more than in the past.

Tapi Toro :

Peter onil best u will never do

Leo :

you both can step down

ㄒㄖ丂卄 :

Inap ya, Papua New Guineans are tired of you already. Sunday chol ba fuel price go K7 per litre ya🤦‍♂️

🦦 :

finally, debate please

JR AY OFFICIAL :

PO tok tru, time blem economy been bagarp but ino bagarap osem now go worse ogeta

Halzii Doe :

yupla tok² lo ol namba na yet yumi greylisted sta na fuel price go antap inflation killim ol man sta na inap lo boast time people suffer sta.

Koavea Karulaka :

Forget it. We need leaders to deliver, not argue about policies. Where are the physical results that benefit the people & improve their lives. That is what we want to see. You can keep your rocket science economic formulas that only appear nice on paper but never produce tangible benefits. See the crime rate, tribal fights in the cities, unemployment, lack of medicine, lack of doctors, uncontrolled city influxes, increasing goods and services prices, etc. PMJM it is your watch 7yrs now. The ball is in your court.

zevduns :

Inap ya election kam klostu na yupla la provim wonem??? yutla wantem Step aside we need a new vibrant PM

Montii J Fong :

BEGA MAHN 🇵🇬 :

its not good for our mpjm to do such video from my pov:😳😳

HUPER ☠️ 💯 ☠️ :

leaves difference aside and works together to run this country about to collapse. you borh are powerful weapon. hard lo tktk, but PO is still the best and gives him credit.

bemindii :

just step down

TommyBoy :

fuel k7 now under you . pm O'Neil k2.50 k3 per liter

laidbackme :

The very fact that the PM issued the challenge is sign of weakness.