2022 election planning to focus on security

The National National

PRIME Minister James Marape says planning for the national general election is focusing on security.
“Security will be of utmost importance to ensure that our citizens are able to vote the leaders of their choice,” he said.
“We are a democratic country.
“On that basis, leadership is elected, and we want to, to the best of our ability, create a fair and friendly environment to everyone in 2022.”
Police Commissioner David Manning told The National that the planning for the joint security operations involving the police (RPNGC), defence force and Correctional Services started when the warning orders came out on Aug 2.
There are three parts to the joint security operations:

  • PRE-national election operations;
  • ELECTION proper; and,
  • POST-national election operations.

“The RPNGC is negotiating with Treasury to release funds to start preparing for the first phase of the operation which includes intelligence gathering, community policing, media and publication and pre-deployment training of the integrated joint security forces,” Comm manning said.
He admitted that despite the joint forces operation, the state agencies did not have adequate security personnel or resources to properly cover the nation, but would be relying on intelligence gathering, a media campaign and community policing.
“It is through intelligence gathering we will identify and target potential threats,” he said.
“It is through intelligence gathering that will determine the distribution of security personnel.”