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By ANDREW ALPHONSE
MORE police personnel will be sent to the troubled Mt Hagen city,
according to the Internal Security Minister Sani Rambi during a visit
recently to the troubled Highlands city.
Mr Rambi was in Mt Hagen to seek collective views from local leaders and
public for a permanent deployment of additional police personnel to
address lawlessness there.
Mr Rambi said his trip to the province was to get first-hand views from
the public and find possibilities to eradicate continuous lawlessness
there, adding one of the solutions would be to deploy more police
personnel.
Last week, lord mayor Lukas Mek called for more police deployment to
contain widespread uprisings as influx of people had outnumbered the
police manpower strength.
Mr Rambi said he was satisfied with the outcome of his meeting and would
meet with Police Commissioner Gari Baki and deputy commissioner and
chief of operations Geoffrey Vaki to discuss the issue.
“As a Western Highlander, I’m very concerned about recent violence in
the city.
“I will sit with the two commissioners to find ways to address the
serious law and order issues that are severely affecting the image of
this province,” Mr Rambi said.
City manager Richard Culligan has welcomed the minister’s move
describing it as timely.
Mr Culligan said order would be maintained if his rules inspectors
worked alongside uniformed police officers to combat crimes like drug
dealing, pick-pocketing, bag snatching, hold-ups and other petty crimes.
Meanwhile, Mr Rambi has also announced the establishment of a new rural
police station at the notorious Baiyer station.
He said talks were in initial stages with the National Planning
Department for a 35-house barracks and 20-room single quarters building
project.
“More than 30 police will be based there to contain tribal fights and
serious crimes when this project gets off the ground,” he added.
 
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