Tomuriesa Says UN Chief Failed to Address Key Issues During PNG Visit
Papua New Guinea Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa has voiced disappointment over the recent visit of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, saying the trip did not address critical issues facing the country and region.
Tomuriesa Says UN Chief Failed to Address Key Issues During PNG Visit
Tomuriesa said the Opposition welcomed the visit but was concerned that topics such as corruption, ongoing law and order challenges, and gender-based violence were absent from the Secretary-General’s public statements. He also noted that the struggle for independence in West Papua remained overlooked.
According to Tomuriesa, electoral issues in Papua New Guinea should also have been highlighted during discussions with Prime Minister James Marape and his Cabinet. He said the UN chief missed an opportunity to raise matters affecting ordinary Papua New Guineans.
“The highest-ranking official of the United Nations has totally failed to address some of the major issues affecting the nation and the region,” Tomuriesa stated. He added that such concerns continue to undermine national development.
Prime Minister Marape, however, described the four-day visit as important, stressing that Guterres had engaged with both leaders and communities across the country. The Secretary-General addressed Parliament, honoured the late Sir Michael Somare in Wewak, and travelled to rural and highlands locations.
Marape recounted a personal farewell moment with Guterres at Jacksons International Airport, describing him as a man of humility and service. He said the UN chief’s actions reflected respect for PNG’s culture and its people.
In his own remarks, Guterres praised Papua New Guinea’s contribution to the global fight against climate change and expressed admiration for the country’s leadership in environmental issues. His visit coincided with the nation’s 50th Independence golden jubilee.
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