Office of the Member for Esa’ala District/ HON. JIMMY MALADINA
I feel compelled to respond to the recent misleading and highly hypocritical accusations
made by Hon. Peter O’Neill regarding the K50 million grant from the Government of the
People’s Republic of China. The claims he has put forward are not only unfounded but also
harmful to the integrity of our nation’s leadership and our valued international relationships.
Firstly, let it be known that the Esa’ala District, under my representation, was a proud
recipient of K10 million from this grant to build our district hospital. This is the first time in
many years that such a significant investment in healthcare infrastructure has been made in our district, and it comes at a critical time when our people are in dire need of improved
medical facilities.
For O’Neill to insinuate that these funds are anything less than a genuine
effort to uplift our communities is an insult to the people of Esa’ala and other districts
benefiting from this grant.
Secondly, the grant in question was part of a broader agreement made during Prime Minister James Marape’s state visit to China last year. This was a public and transparent process, fully aligned with the diplomatic practices that have long governed our nation’s foreign relations.
The Government of China has consistently supported Papua New Guinea’s
development efforts, and this grant is a continuation of that enduring relationship. To suggest that this support is somehow tied to political maneuvering is a grave misrepresentation of the facts and reeks of hypocrisy.
Let us not forget that when O’Neill was Prime Minister, he received a K70 million grant from
the Chinese government on a similar state visit. Where did that money go? It was diverted
entirely into his own electorate, Ialibu-Pangia, leaving the rest of the country high and dry.
Now, he has the audacity to criticize Prime Minister Marape for distributing the K50 million
grant fairly across many provinces and districts. This is the height of the hypocrisy, and the
people of Papua New Guinea deserve better than such double standards from a former
Prime Minister.
O’Neill’s baseless insinuations about potential “trades” or “concessions” made in exchange
for this grant are not only unsubstantiated, but they also risk damaging our diplomatic
relations with China. Such reckless speculation serves no purpose other than to sow distrust and confusion.
It is worth noting that Prime Minister Marape has always acted transparently
and in the best interests of Papua New Guinea, with a clear commitment to upholding the
sovereignty and dignity of our nation.
It is clear that O’Neill is desperate to cling to relevance by any means necessary, even if it
means spreading falsehoods and sowing seeds of diplomatic distrust. The people of Papua
New Guinea are wise enough to see through these tactics. They know that this government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Marape, is committed to fairness, transparency, and the well-being of all our people.
Finally, I extend my sincere apologies to the Government of the People’s Republic of China
and its people for the baseless accusations promulgated by O’Neil. His views do not reflect
the position of the Government of Papua New Guinea, nor do they align with the values of
our people. We remain committed to our strong and mutually beneficial relationship with
China, and we will continue to work together in the spirit of cooperation and respect.
