Barrack mothers form association

MOTHERS living in a police barracks in Western Highlands are putting in a combined effort to look at issues affecting them.
The PNG Royal Mothers’ Association is the first of its type, although women’s groups in police barracks have unregistered organisations.
During the association launching last Friday at the Kimininga police barracks in Mt Hagen, the women, mostly wives of policemen, decided to join hands to address issues such as health and crime.
Through the association will carry out awareness on HIV/AIDS, issues such as health problems, crime, violence against the wives and abusive police husbands are affecting them directly in the barracks community.
They will also look into ways to help widows and their children in the barracks and will work with the department and donor partners to assist them with income-generating activities.
Provincial commander Supt Martin Lakari has given his full backing to the association, saying barracks residents were his “family members” and he has  allocated them an office space.
He said that the aims of the association would come handy in desperate times such as during deaths and repatriation.
He said the “royal mothers” could make sure the barrack was tidy, discourage noisy drunks and report those who misuse their privileges, and in the process ease the load that he has.

 Lakari said.
He said the barracks, although run down, should be a clean place and has called on residents to stop gambling and other illegal activities.
He also wanted kunai huts at the barracks removed.
Community policing division boss Susan Mondia was also supportive of the association, saying it would be the mouthpiece of women in the barracks.
“There are issues affecting the women in barracks and the association is step forward to empower the mothers and policemen’s wives,” she said.