Boito vows to find researchers

POLICE Minister John Boito has vowed to do everything within his power to find the five missing scientists from the Institute of Medical Research and their boat crew.
Boito will be putting forward a cabinet submission to secure funding for a police special operation to locate the missing people.
He made this comment in response to a series of questions raised by NCD Governor Powes Parkop on the missing scientists and three boat crew members.
“Let me reassure the people of PNG and especially the relatives of the missing scientists and the boat crew that we have not forgotten them and are doing everything humanly possible to conclude this sad tragedy in the history of our young nation,” Boito said.
“I am putting together a cabinet submission for additional funding to continue the search and I hope it will be a rescue mission for the missing people.
“It does look rather gloomy at this stage but I am hoping and praying that we will find them alive and well, wherever they may be.”
Boito said rescue operations were called off in September last year after five weeks because of a lack of funding and the suspicious nature of the incident.
It was then referred to police for investigations.
Funds were promised by the West New Britain provincial administration but never came.
Police investigations into the case have been hampered by lack of funding as Kove is a very isolated area – you need both land, sea and air transport to get into the area.
“Our evidence at this point are all circumstantial, based on eyewitness accounts but have allowed police to tie up suspects who may have knowledge of the missing scientists and the boat skipper and crew.
“The two female scientists have been sighted but there is no sign of the three men. As you would have gathered from media reports, the body of the boat skipper was found in Manus.
“We have no idea where the boat crew member is. Another person who was on the boat was sighted in Kimbe and police are following this lead.
“I will secure immediate funding to assist police. I hope we can rescue all, if not some, of the members of the missing scientists and boat crew,” Boito said.