Authorities called in over police allowances

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By ZACHERY PER
ASST Comm of Police (ACP) Northern Peter Guinness has called on responsible authorities to immediately clear misunderstanding over police allowances in the Covid-19 operation.
He made an undertaking to consult Police Comm and State of Emergency Controller David Manning on the issue of allowances for police personnel.
ACP Guinness made the call following a protest by Eastern Highlands police this week when they stormed the Eastern Highlands government building in Goroka and locked its gates.
Public servants in the building were locked in and were not allowed to move in and out on Monday morning.
“I am still yet to get updates on the situation in Goroka town from the provincial police commander but I am aware of what happened,” Guinness said.
“If there were some commitments for police allowances then this has to be settled, they must process and honour the commitment to pay.”
Guinness said if there were no commitments then this had to be clarified to clear up any misunderstanding.
“If there was money set aside to support the Covid-19 operation, under my command there are no personal protection equipment (PPEs) for my policemen, they are the front liners so I urged authorities also to look into PPEs to strengthen the operation,” he said.
Eastern Highlands police commander Supt David Seine Jr was not present and several attempts to get his comments were unsuccessful.
Acting provincial administrator Maniha Ipae led a team of senior officials out of the Yanepa building and met with the officers.
Police officers expressed their frustration at the issue of allowances and wanted the provincial government to facilitate payment immediately.
The administration was given until Friday to organise the payments.
Ipae assured the police personnel that the process to have their allowances had started and all officers involved in the operation would be paid.
He said the new Integrated Public Finance Management System (IFMS) required diligence checks and balances before cheques were printed.
He said these would cause some delays but reassured the officers that they would be paid as soon as possible.
However, Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu, when contacted, maintained that the allowance for the police would only be facilitated by the national government. He said the special operation in the Covid-19 was sanctioned by the government.

13 comments

  • They deserve to be paid. Everyone worked to earn money so why delaying their allowance.

  • POLICEMEN MUST SHOW DISCIPLINE AND EXAMPLES IN THE PUBLIC REGARDLESS!! THEY ARE PAID FOR DOING A JOB. THE GOVERNMENT MUST REVIEW THIS SO CALLED ALLOWANCE THING AND REMOVE IT ALTOGETHER. REVIEW OTHER OPTIONS MEANS THEY SHOULD GET THEIR SALARY ONLY.

  • Not good to cause public panic and fear into the ordinary citizens. They are paid full time salaries – Period! Any allowance is the sole responsibility of whoever requests for Police presence or Police support and the Police hierarchy should not deploy police personnel if these allowances are not budgeted for Police. Funds should be readily made available to the Provincial Police Headquarters and facilitated by the PPC of these Provinces based on numbers provided by the PSCs for those participating in events – in this case COVID-19 SOE.

    In their (Policemen/policewomen) defense though is that waiting for allowance is frustrating when you do not get paid the allowance. However, there has to be communication protocols established and use the Police command to escalate issues than to cause public fears and panic to the public.

  • Are they on pay roll?? If YES, why asking more. Its every ones business to stop the virus from spreading.

  • What’s the Job of the Police Minister now? Is he a scientist of COVID 19? Brian Kramer must now concentrate on his job and ensure police allowances are paid on time.

  • Are these policemen on government payroll????? What they did is in line of their duty!!! They shouldn’t be paid allowance. If you look very closely, most fund on Covid-19 or any other big events, millions is spent on police allowance and that is apart from their salary.

    Ino long taim ol ami too ba askim lo allowance.

  • They are entitled to their allowance which is different from their normal pay but most of the time their approaches are usually unprofessional and unethical. Sampela bilong ol bin mekim neim pinis long brukim Parliament long allowance tasol. Most of them are not fit to wear the BLUE uniform because their professional conducts often contradict the office they serve. most of them survive on DIRTY MONEY that is from bribery, road blocks, etc.

    Plis traim upholdim mama lo an noken traim long soim olsem yupela step antap long mama lo bilong Yumi.

  • Today police request for allowance before constitutional duty something they swear to perform and protect the citizens. Again today they are in arms to kill or destroy properties for allowance. Why…..???? What makes them to behaviour in such a manner? Minister Kramer, it bolds down to their livelihoods and achieving their personal goals like any other citizens so strategize to improve their living conditions and pay…. the so called allowance will disappear into thin air.

  • What kind of allowances are they referring too? Is it travelling allowance, or risk allowance? If the policemen are from Goroka and performing operations within Goroka, then they are not entitled for travel allowance because they operate within the province. It may be risks allowance but they should come out clear rather then acting like super hero’s and causing fear among the general public.

  • Teachers are deserve to receive their leave allowance and it used to be delayed and yet they never strike and faithfully committed to their duty.Why police officers who never perform their duty with respect and diligently asking for covid-19 operations allowance which is part of their daily duty where they supposed to do.PLEASE GIVE THEIR ALLOWANCE OR ELSE SOME INNOCENT PEOPLE FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC MIGHT BECOME VICTIMS DUE TO POLICE OFFICERS NOT RECEIVING ALLOWANCES.

    • Upon reading all the comments from the general public, I would like to say that, everyone makes mistakes and we all learn from those mistakes to be a better person. Now.. you do not understand what it is like or how it feels to wear that blue uniform which you all are commenting on. Every Police mistakes, you make alot of noise, (empty drums make a lot of noise, remember that), and every good things Police does you guys never praise or make good comments/remarks on them WHY? Police has right to get allowance apart from their normal pay, meaning risk allowance, Why? because they are the front liners,..simple. Stop accusing Police for nothing, be specific on what you say, and Police are not undisipline criminals, Ol stap na mama, papa, sister, barata blon you stap safe ya,..Police Force stap na yumi stap safe, Nogat Police yumi ogeta bai kisim taim, tingm na putim lo head..Mi supportim Police na stap no matter what, because I know Police are the only ones to run to in times of trouble and other difficult situations..

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