I AGREE with the interesting idea by Reginald Renagi for PNG to have a coast guard and also to improve our maritime defence (Jan 3).
Defence chiefs at Murray Barracks are not taking this seriously because our ships and planes do not go out a lot to stop illegal fishing by foreigners.
PNGDF planes and ships are not fully utilised by the people at HQ, who make the same excuses even with our army as there are also no border patrols for a long time now. Defence bosses are always saying Defence has no money to go on patrols. These are lies as Defence chiefs always find money somewhere if the commander and secretary want to go for a trip outside Port Moresby at very short notice.
The junior officers are not that stupid to be fooled by these lies and cover-ups.
The former colonel knows the seriousness of our situation very well today when urging the Government to do something about our national security and having more ships to patrol our waters.
I support this call by the writer, one of our finest patrol boat captains in the force, along with another naval counterpart, Col Ani.
During their time, the navy was very active. These two top sailors have been known to either match or even beat their Australian commanding officers in operations skills, something not seen today.
These former senior officers were well trained by the Royal Australian Navy and at Australian units.
As ship captains, they were master tacticians, and operational commanders who knew their jobs very well, and whose professional actions were later proudly followed by junior officers in the organisation.
It is a sad fact and real pity that the force now lacks true professionals like them.
The government must closely study the idea of having a coast guard as suggested by the writer.
I think it is necessary as the PNGDF is not doing anything to catch foreigners illegally stealing our fish.
The Government is only good at boasting of having billions, but has failed to get Defence to do the work the taxpayers are paying.
Those who steal our fish are laughing at our Government as it is powerless to do anything to stop them.
This is not a good image of our country and the Government must boost our defence.
Can the Government do something today, and not in another 30 years time when there is no more fish left?

M.T. Tolaiki
Port Moresby