Prime Minister James Marape has dismissed claims by Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill that the forthcoming visit of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is a sign of Papua New Guinea’s democratic failure.
“The people of Papua New Guinea should not be misled,” Prime Minister Marape said in a media release late this afternoon.
“The UN Secretary-General is coming to our shores to acknowledge our country’s 50 years of nationhood, our peace-building achievements, and our leadership on global issues like climate change, oceans, and sustainable development. This is an unprecedented four-day visit — the longest any UN Secretary-General has made to our region — and it is recognition, not reprimand.”
In a statement earlier, Mr O’Neill described Mr Guterres’ visit next week as “the biggest indication yet of the peril our nation is facing”.
“It should come as no surprise but still it is a massive embarrassment strategically timed to be delivered on the eve of our 50 years of independence in the hope we listen and act,” the People’s National Congress Party leader said.
“The 2022 National General Election was a diabolical disaster for democracy – less than 50% of eligible voters were able to cast their vote and more than 100 election petitions were filed in the Court of Disputed Returns.”
“Local Level Government elections were not delivered in 2024 and remain on a vague timeline and have not been delivered.”
“Elections are the bare minimum of any democracy. The stolen 2022 National General Election and the failure to deliver the 2024 Local Level Government election is a testament to the failing democracy and accelerated slide towards autocracy.”
“There is no doubt that democracy is being denied in our country, not maintained or honored.”
“The UN does not listen to corrupt political leaders but instead they base their view on facts such as The Economist Democracy Index; the Democracy Matrix and the V-Dem Institute.”
“The facts are that in every one of these global democracy indexes, our country is no longer considered a democracy.”
“The V-Dem Index of 2024 rates PNG as an Electoral Autocracy with elements of both a hard autocracy and Moderate Autocracy.”
“The Chief of the UN is coming to PNG to address Parliament because we are recognized globally as a failing democracy,” Mr O’Neill said.
In his response, the Prime Minister said it was ironic that Mr O’Neill, whose government left behind a trail of corruption cases, economic mismanagement, and questionable deals, was now attempting to lecture the nation on democracy.
“It was under Mr O’Neill’s watch that trust in government collapsed, the economy nosedived, and institutions were compromised. The people remember who bulldozed Parliament, who silenced dissent, and who created the very conditions that weakened our systems.”
Prime Minister Marape stressed that under his leadership, difficult but necessary reforms are underway to strengthen democracy and restore credibility to elections.
“Yes, our democracy has challenges, as do all democracies. But unlike in Mr O’Neill’s time, my government is working transparently with the Electoral Commission, international partners, and civil society to reform our electoral processes. Preparations for Local Level Government elections are progressing and will be delivered — not swept aside or ignored as in the past.”
He also reminded citizens that global democracy indexes were not final judgments but analytical tools, and that real democracy is measured by the resilience of institutions and the freedom of people to speak, assemble, and choose their leaders.
“Papua New Guinea remains a democracy — vibrant, noisy, sometimes messy, but alive. Our courts are independent, our press is free, and our people have never lost their right to choose their leaders.”
“Peter O’Neill should not use the UN Secretary-General’s visit to score cheap political points. This visit is a milestone in our history — the first time ever a UN chief spends four days in Papua New Guinea. It is an acknowledgement of our journey since 1975, not a condemnation. Instead of running down our country on the eve of our Golden Jubilee, Mr O’Neill should join the rest of us in welcoming this honor with pride.”
“This is not about O’Neill or Marape. This is about Papua New Guinea. And Papua New Guinea will stand tall,” the Prime Minister concluded.