Prime Minister James Marape has urged staff of the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council to work harder and with greater commitment, reminding them of their responsibility as the lead department of Government.
Speaking at the Department’s Independence Luncheon in Port Moresby on Friday, Prime Minister Marape said public servants must not take their positions for granted but give their best in serving Papua New Guinea.
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“The younger generation, work hard. The older generation who are in their 50s, train those who will come up after us,” he said in a statement.
Prime Minister Marape said it did not matter when a person entered the workforce or at what level they started, but rather the quality of service they ultimately provided to the country.
Drawing from the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in the Gospel of Matthew, he said people were called to work at different times, but each had a responsibility to contribute to the work that remained.
He said the same principle applied to service to the State, with public servants expected to fulfil their responsibilities and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“You are not just another ordinary department. You are the lead department in this country,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“There is a lot more work to be done, as well as unfinished work.
“You have September, October, November and December before we close out 2026, never to be repeated.”
Prime Minister Marape said Papua New Guinea’s 51st Independence Anniversary was another reminder that time was moving quickly and every opportunity to serve the country must be used well.
“The 51st anniversary has arrived, and there will never be another 51st anniversary,” he said.
“The country is still calling on men and women to come and work on what remains unfinished. Every effort must be given for the betterment of our country. You should not be here just for pay and compensation.”
Prime Minister Marape said public servants should work towards leaving behind a better country than the one they inherited.
“The society we eventually retire into must be a better society,” he said.
“This is the driving force in my life. I do not want to go into a society that has not improved from what I inherited in 2007 as an elected leader.”
He said Papua New Guinea’s current social and economic indicators should compel public servants to work harder, particularly those serving in the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council.
“We must bear in mind that we occupy a prime position in the entire Public Service structure,” he said.
“We are the head, and if the head is unwell, it will affect the tail.”
Prime Minister Marape said Department staff must remain conscious of the responsibilities entrusted to them as they help coordinate Government policy and provide direction across the machinery of State.
He urged them to embrace Government policy, understand the laws of the country, and advise, shepherd and direct State agencies towards better outcomes for Papua New Guineans.
Prime Minister Marape also stressed the importance of personal character and strong families in building a better Papua New Guinea.
He said children were often the first judges of their parents’ character because they observed their work ethic, discipline, punctuality and everyday habits.
“Your children are watching because the aggregate character of a nation starts at the family level,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape called on parents, including fathers, to provide leadership and positive examples within their families, saying strong character developed in homes ultimately contributed to building a stronger nation.
He thanked Department staff for their service to Papua New Guinea and for the support and respect they had shown the Office of the Prime Minister since 2019.
“Thank you for the respect you have for the Office of the Prime Minister,” Prime Minister Marape said.
He reminded public servants that everyone had a role to play in the machinery of Government and owed it to the people they served to leave Papua New Guinea a better country.
“We all have a role in the Public Service, and we owe it to our people to make Papua New Guinea a better place.”