Alotau tense but life goes on: MP

ALOTAU MP Charles Abel says life in Alotau town is continuing as usual in the midst of a police operation to hunt down notorious and illusive criminal Tommy Maeva Baker.
“People are going about their normal activities although the general situation is still tense,” he said yesterday when providing an update.
Abel said there were challenges and people needed to be cautious when moving around because of a rise in violent crime associated with the activities of Baker and his gang which had seen the public and businesses victimised.
Police reinforcements had been brought in and the current operation had seen people return to their daily routines. “People are coping and are continuing their daily business activities,” Abel said.
“Business houses such as shops, fuel stations, markets and banks are open.”
Milne Bay police commander Supt Peter Barkie expressed similar sentiments but urged visitors coming to Alotau to take precautions.
“We are currently conducting a police operation to round up Tommy Baker’s gang and we are mindful of visitors coming in from outside centres on short business trips,” he said.
“We are not mindful about people within the province coming into town as they know how to move around before returning to their respective villages.
“But visitors flying in because without realising, they might be caught up in a cross fire with the police and the gang.”
Supt Barkie said there were three police teams on the ground conducting separate investigations.
The teams are the Port Moresby-based task force, special police investigation team and the local police team.
“They are all conducting their own investigations and they all report to me on a daily basis,” Supt Barkie said. He said the police teams were working to capture Baker and the rest of his gang.