PRIVATE mobile phones of members of the security forces were an unexpected boon as they became the major form of communication during the 2007 general election.
Assistant police commissioner for Highlands region Simon Kauba revealed this on Monday while commenting on police communications during the security operations.

“Communication was hopeless. Communication was worse than the previous elections. However, private mobile phones provided better communication during the elections in the Highlands.
“I must say thank you to Telikom Limited and B Mobile for providing us the link during the elections,” he said as he challenged the police communication directorate to provide an audit on the K4 million allocated for the purchase of new communication equipment.
The issue of communication as an impediment was also highlighted in presentations by acting police commissioner for Momase Giosi Labi, acting police commissioner for New Guinea Islands Fred Sheekiot and acting police commissioner for Southern region Jim Wan.
But chief of communication Chief Insp Michael Corren, in response, told senior officers that accountability was lacking in the Police Force.
He said there had been a lot of communication equipment among others but to date these things were no longer here.
“There are no records of communication equipment we have bought and used over the years. Why do you want new things when you cannot look after the ones we bought before,” Mr Corren challenged the officers.
He said his division tried its best to put in place a communication network which they succeeded in some areas, and that K4 million allocated was inadequate.
He told those that gathered not to wait for every election time to ask for what they want.
Mr Corren also revealed that about K200,000 worth of equipment was lost in Southern Highlands during the State of Emergency and that none of these equipment was recovered.
He also said communication in remote parts of the country could only be effective if there were Telikom repeater stations with security of the equipment guaranteed.

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