‘Gulf not ready for LNG’

THE migration of people into Wabo station in the Gulf province where the Elk and Antelope Oil and Gas fields are located may pose “big problems” for police.
“Gulf province is not ready for the LNG project. Law and security will be a problem if we are not prepared,” provincial police commander Supt Ruden Gisu said.
“The projects are due to commence in a matter of weeks, yet our capacity to provide a safe and secure community and environment conducive for the project is not up to an expectable standard,” Supt Gisu said.
He said security was vital for development in the country yet in the case of Gulf police, services were limited to the Kerema town and Malalaua while most remote outstations were either “very inadequate or non-existent”.
“Baimuru and Wabo are where the second multi-billion LNG project will take off, yet we have crimes like willful murder, rape, sorcery-related killings that have been unattended.
“Police are facing rundown facilities like houses without water tanks, toilets, gutters and no dinghies and outboard motors to attend to the cases,” he said.
Supt Gisu said there has been no funding support from the police headquarters to conduct basic maintenance on the station and accommodation.
“Although Kikori police station had better building and staff houses, there was a lack of banking services in the area.
“Gulf, in general, has no magistrate based in Kerema, no court house or rural lockup in Kikori Baimuru to hold remandees over night before sending them to Kerema and then Malalaua where they are transported by road to Port Moresby to appear in court or be locked up in Bomana prison,” he said.
Supt Gisu appealed to the police headquarters to immediately fund the maintenance programme and boost logistical support.