24/11/2025
*SERVING WITH PURPOSE*
By Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, MP 🇵🇬
Leadership is never measured by comfort, popularity, or convenience. It is measured by the moments when one must choose *principle over power, conscience over comfort, and the lonely road over the easy path.*
For me, that defining moment arrived on *11 April 2019 at 11:00am.* After serving as Finance Minister for nearly seven years under the O’Neill Government, I made the hardest decision of my political life: *I walked out—alone.*
I had joined that Government on 6 August 2012, helping to build and manage the national economy. Over time, however, I witnessed decisions that shifted away from national interest toward personal and political self-interest. My conscience refused to remain silent.
So, without a political camp behind me, without a plan for power, and without fear of uncertainty, *I resigned as a single MP standing on principle.*
What I did not foresee was that *49 days later—again at 11 o’clock—101 Members of Parliament,* including Mr. O’Neill himself, would vote for me to become Prime Minister. It is the greatest honour of my life, and one I carry with deep humility.
*Serving With Purpose, Not Self-Interest*
From day one, I committed my life to working for the people—not for political survival, not for wealth, and not for favour.
Those who work closely with me know this:
I give my time, my energy, and my strength— *often 18 hours a day* —because leadership is stewardship, and stewardship requires sacrifice.
Every major policy we have pursued is grounded in the belief that national leadership must serve *fairness, opportunity, and long-term benefit for all Papua New Guineans.*
*Taking Back More for Papua New Guinea*
I make *no apology* for demanding better outcomes from resource developers. Our people deserve fair returns for their own God-given resources.
Under our Government, new and revised agreements at:
* *Porgera*
* *Papua LNG*
* *P’nyang*
* and other major projects
deliver *more for PNG than any previous agreements in our nation’s history.* This includes higher revenue flows, stronger equity positions, and expanded benefits for landowners and provinces.
These are not political slogans—they are *measurable, audited gains.*
*Building a Nation Where No Child Is Left Behind*
As someone who grew up in a struggling rural family, I know the power of education. That is why we have strengthened education at every level:
* The *Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP)*
* National and international scholarship support
* Investments from early childhood through tertiary education
For the first time, many children from remote and poor families have a pathway to higher learning, both in PNG and overseas.
*Connecting a Disconnected Nation*
For decades, roads that could unite our people existed only in speeches. Under *Connect PNG,* they are now reality.
We achieved:
* Kikori to Mt Hagen road, driven on for the first time in January 2023
* Port Moresby to Alotau, connected for the first time in history
* And soon, Port Moresby to Lae by road
Across the country, ports, jetties, airstrips and rural roads are reaching communities long forgotten.
*Transforming Health Care for the First Time in 50 Years*
For the first time since Independence, Papua New Guineans are receiving world-class medical care at home:
* The first kidney transplant performed in PNG
* Local heart surgeries, bypass operations, and cardiac treatments
* A near-completed National Cancer Centre at Port Moresby General Hospital
These are real achievements improving real lives.
*Fair and Transparent Distribution of Funds*
We have maintained fairness: *Every district and province receives DSIP* and PSIP, regardless of political affiliation.
This is leadership based on principle, not politics.
*MPs Know the True Character of Leaders*
Members of Parliament observe everything: work ethic, discipline, lifestyle, behaviour, and moral compass. They know who leads with integrity—and who does not.
My leadership journey was not accidental. It was purposeful.
*The Journey That Prepared Me*
Some claim I “accidentally” became Prime Minister. The truth is different:
* In 1991 at university, I decided to serve my people through Parliament.
* From 1993 to 2001, I lived in my village to understand the real daily struggles of ordinary citizens.
* In 2007, I entered Parliament with two lifelong commitments:
(a) To fight for *Hela Province*
(b) To restore *sovereign control over PNG’s natural resources*
I was mentored by great leaders— *Sir Michael Somare, Sir Julius Chan, and Peter O’Neill* —learning from both their strengths and their weaknesses.
*A Message to Young Leaders*
Politics is not a *100-metre sprint.*
It is a marathon.
Guard your integrity.
Serve humbly.
Work diligently in your communities.
Let your actions speak louder than your promises.
Leadership is not about title—it is about service.
*The Burden and Responsibility of High Office*
This job is often lonely. Many expect the Prime Minister to say “yes” to everything.
But responsible leadership means saying *“no”* when:
* Resources are limited
* Laws must be respected
* Policies must align with national priorities
I will always choose what is right for PNG, even when that choice is unpopular.
*To the People of Papua New Guinea: Thank You*
Thank you for your patience, your resilience, and your trust.
You have endured difficult years, yet you continue to stand with hope and faith.
We continue to support you through:
* Backing mothers and SMEs, including PNG Women’s Micro Bank
* Strengthening agriculture, small business, and local trade
* Protecting local alluvial mining from foreign exploitation
* Ensuring schools, hospitals, and districts receive their fair share
We also delivered the *highest tax relief in PNG’s history:*
* GST removed from 13 essential household items
* Tax-free income threshold raised to K20,000
This means *over 200,000 low-income Papua New Guineans now pay zero income tax—tangible support during tough economic times.*
We are not perfect, but we are genuine, committed, and working tirelessly.
*I Began This Journey Alone—But I No Longer Walk Alone*
Today I walk with a nation.
I walk with leaders who share the same values of honesty, courage, and service.
And for as long as I have breath, I will continue to serve Papua New Guinea with conviction and humility—until the people, and my God, release me from this responsibility.
*May God bless Papua New Guinea.*
— PMJM 🇵🇬
