THE National Defence security is not a major item in the National Government’s medium-term development strategy (MTDS) although it complements national development.
Defence Secretary Frederick Punangi revealed this yesterday on the occasion of the arrival of the PNGDF’s Casa aircraft P2-502 from Indonesia.
“The Government has not given any clear direction for the future of the Defence Force security … the level Defence Force participated was different from law and order,” Mr Punangi said.
“There was a genuine need for the creation of a separate national Defence, security and international relations sector within the overall national planning system so that national Defence and security were given a higher profile and appropriately funded accordingly,” Mr Punangi said.
He said due to inadequate funding for PNGDF over the last 16 years, a lot of activities had been left unattended such as the patrolling of the common land borders and maritime surveillance.
Mr Punangi said that the key issues facing the Defence organisation were those relating to, and concerning the Defence reform programme which sought to strengthen the capability of PNGDF to deliver its core services within approved budgetary constraints.
“As a result of the public sector reform programme, we now have a Defence Force that is very low in manpower but overburdened in responsibilities. We are now down to 2,000 men.”
Mr Punangi said the reform programme was initially done in June last year, concentrating on the retrenchment exercise which saw about 1,308 men leaving the service.
 

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