Boost for sea, land security

 By MOUA OMOA

LAND and sea surveillance in the country will be further enhanced in the country with plans to purchase more patrol boats and planes, Parliament was told last Friday.

Defence Minister Fabian Pok said plans were underway with collaboration by the Defence Force, Police, Customs and National Fisheries Authority (NFA) to enhance surveillance to protect the country’s waters.

He said there have been discussions with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming to buy small aircraft to carry this surveillance work.

He added that the small planes would be fitted with surveillance cameras and would patrol the areas to help combat illegal fishing, illegal logging and gun smuggling and human trafficking.

Pok said that Zeming had written to the NFA to fund the purchase of the aircraft.

The minister agreed with Manus MP Ronny Knight that illegal fishing was robbing the country of millions of kina.

He said all stakeholders were working closely to address the situation. 

Pok also said the small planes would also be used to enhance boarder security and assist in emergency operations.