Prime Minister James Marape has assured the people of Papua New Guinea (PNG) that his government is working hard to address both immediate and long-term challenges. As he departed the country today at around7:30am, Sunday, August 25th, for the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Tonga, Marape urged citizens to focus on the progress being made rather than be swayed by political opponents. "We are working consistent with what we set out to do in 2019," Marape said in a brief media conference at the APEC Terminal at the Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby. He emphasized that the government has made progress in its six focus areas: Economy, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Law & Justice, and Growing the Economy. In light of the onslaught of criticism from the Opposition this past week alone, the Prime Minister called for the public to judge his government in 2027, saying, "If they are not satisfied, they can get us out of office." Marape highlighted efforts to reduce the country's debt, with a plan to achieve a balanced budget by 2027 and a debt-free PNG by 2034. He also added significant improvements in education, including the return of over 100,000 students to school, and the expansion of tertiary institutions. He said in health, the government has reopened the country’s cancer facility and is working on new heart and kidney centers. As for Infrastructure projects like the Connect PNG Programme, he points out that they are also underway, aiming to link roads, ports, and airports across the country. "These are only some of the work we are doing in our focus areas," Marape stated, adding that only a government with "guts, will, and determination" can make such changes. Meantime, during his absence, Deputy Prime minister John Rosso will act as Prime Minister.