Budget cuts for police worrying businesses as summit looms

BUDGET cuts to the police are a concern for businesses in Port Moresby, says Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting president Rio Fiocco.
He told The National that crime may rise as a result of this while noting concerns about how the police may be overly committed for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit this year.
“Law and order is still a major issue. Cuts to the police budget are a worry for businesses as well as the residents of the city,” Fiocco said.
“Whilst we know that visitors for Apec will be well looked after, businesses need assurance that the police will not be short of manpower and vehicles, radios, et cetera, to provide their usual policing activities in the city.
“In other words, we need to see more visibility with the police as well as more police on the beat walking through the markets and the main streets of the town, Waigani and Boroko (in Port Moresby).”
Similar views were expressed by Police Commissioner Gari Baki over the 2018 national Budget allocations, saying that it would be a “big setback” for policing this year.
“The 2017 Budget for the Police department was K308,893.5 million but has been reduced to K258,470.3 million in the 2018 Budget – that is a decrease of about K50 million – so it looks like all our utilities costs have been removed,” he said
Baki said he had spoken to Police Minister Jelta Wong who would be speaking to Treasurer Charles Abel to review the Budget cut and assist the police.