Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has called for greater discipline in Government Expenditure as the Marape-Rosso Government prioritises Fuel-Price Relief, El Niño assistance and the continued delivery of essential services throughout the country.
Prime Minister Marape made the call during a Press Conference at the APEC Terminal at Jackson’s International Airport, upon his arrival this afternoon, from attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States. The Prime Minister said his engagements overseas reinforced the reality that International Conflicts and Global Economic Pressures could directly affect ordinary Papua New Guineans through the cost of fuel, food, transport and other necessities. He said Government had already committed substantial resources to cushioning Papua New Guineans from international Fuel Price pressures—money which could otherwise have been directed towards Education, Health, Policing and Infrastructure. “Government is subsidising this because we want the Economy to still be functional. We don’t want our citizens to feel the pain. But that is something we are carrying,” Prime Minister Marape said. Against these pressures, Prime Minister Marape called for restraint in non-essential Government spending over the remaining months of 2026. “I want to ask our citizens, especially Public Servants at District, Province and National level, that we slow down on unnecessary expenditures,” he said. “Let’s cut back on conferences, cut back on moving around, cut back on all the other Recurrent activities that could be pushed back to next year.”
The Prime Minister said some Public Investment Programme projects that had not yet commenced could also be considered for deferral to 2027 where appropriate, allowing Government to concentrate limited resources on immediate National Priorities. Prime Minister Marape stressed that Education, Health and other core services must continue to receive funding. “Right now, subsidising and maintaining the Economy through Fuel Subsidy, assisting our ordinary people through El Niño relief, is a core priority on top of making sure Education and Health remain functional,” he said. On El Niño, Prime Minister Marape said Relief must reach affected communities quickly and without political discrimination. Deputy Prime Minister Hon. John Rosso, who joined the Prime Minister at the Press Conference, confirmed Government’s roll-out of assistance through Districts and Provinces, with Districts taking frontline responsibility while Provincial Governments provide oversight, data collection and coordination. “Politics aside, this is for our people,” Prime Minister Marape said. “So right across all our islands, all our villages, all our people, no one should be dying as a result of starvation or lack of water and lack of medicine.”
Prime Minister Marape called on District Chief Executive Officers and Administrations to remain focused on their communities, assess areas of greatest need and ensure assistance reaches affected people. “Let’s not allow bureaucratic impediments to stand in the way. Food, rice, local food, water, medicine must go to the people,” he said. “Sit in your Districts. Call your District meetings. Prepare for a Strategy to assist our people wherever they are.” The Prime Minister said Government’s response must be matched by responsibility from citizens, including maintaining Peace and Law and Order in their communities.
He linked this to his Message during PNG’s 51st Independence Anniversary—that every Papua New Guinean must contribute through productive work. “If you do not know where to work, help with maintaining Law and Order. Give that work to the country. Protect Law and Order in your community,” he said. Prime Minister Marape said PNG had successfully navigated difficult periods before and could again manage current pressures through prudent spending, prioritisation and collective responsibility. “Let’s all help the country. When the country is healthy, then we are all safely passing through into one more work year next year,” he said.