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Costly logistics lapse
By HARLYNE JOKU
THERE is enough police manpower to handle
the national election but not enough money to fund security logistics,
Police Minister Mark Maipakai said yesterday.
Mr Maipakai said an oversight in the original security budget for the
national election had caused this when funding and logistics costs for
the Defence Force and CS security personnel were not included.
He said there was now a separate submission before NEC, which he hoped
the Government would approve soon.
“I can assure the people of Papua New Guinea that the police were
adequately prepared. When the budget preparation was done, there was an
oversight; we never included the army and the CS, who are part of the
security contingent to be make available for the elections. There is a
separate submission now for additional funding for their involvement. I
am hoping the Government will grant that additional funding,” Mr
Maipakai said during Question Time in Parliament yesterday.
He was responding to Morobe Governor Luther Wenge’s questions relating
to security preparations for the elections.
Mr Maipakai said 2,000 police personnel were on standby to be deployed
two weeks in advance of the elections
He said the election strategy in the troubled Highlands province would
be concurrent.
“Enough security manpower will be on ground in the Southern Highlands
during the polling period. As soon as polling ends in Southern
Highlands, the security personnel will move to Enga while two combatants
groups will remain to oversee the counting. When polling period ends in
Enga, the security forces move on to Western Highlands, while the two
combatants groups in Southern Highlands move on to Enga to oversee
counting and then Western Highlands,” Mr Maipakai said.
“Polls in Simbu and Eastern Highlands will be conducted at the same time
because the police are confident that the two provinces are trouble
free,” Mr Maipakai said.
 
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