Police quarters to be demolished

By FRANK RAI
THE condemned Wau police barracks in the Bulolo district of Morobe province has been ordered to be demolished by the Morobe provincial building board.
The order came last Friday amid concerns raised by Health authorities over the housing condition as ‘unfit’ for human use last August , where the police hierarchy was advised to relocate the police personnel.
While the order will be executed this week, police in Wau are not yet sure where to relocate the families occupying the houses.
The order had stated that failure to comply will have the Wau police station commander penalised with a K2,000 fine and also face a fine of K200 per day if the demolition order was not executed as scheduled.
The order was issued prior to the prolonged delay over the last three months after a report condemning the police accommodations was filed by health and building authorities with the police hierarchy in Port Moresby.
A copy of the order was sent to Bulolo MP Sam Basil, who later told a press conference that he had taken up the issue with the Minister for Internal Security, Sani Rambi and the police hierarchy where negotiations were underway to construct 15 new houses. “The Bulolo joint district planning and Budget priority committee had submitted a K2.2million submission to the Police Department for a counter-funding of the accommodations and I am still talking with the minister,” Mr Basil said.
He said it was a “matter of time” for both the office of the Member for Bulolo and the Minister for Internal Security to act in due time.
“We are acting on it and I believe the Morobe provincial building board, Health authorities, police and the Bulolo district administration would pay a visit sometimes this week,” Mr Basil said.