Business leader calls for more police

THE deployment of more police to the Porgera Valley is good for the local economy but people should also be encouraged to surrender guns, an official says.
Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Nickson Pakea said: “Businesses and the people welcome the callout to restore business confidence in Porgera Paiela and Maip Mulitaka.
“We had been traumatised by the tribal conflicts since the mine shutdown in 2020.
“We are still in fear and stress because we haven’t done anything to (address) the influx of guns and ammunitions into the community.
“When you do not address (that), mine site safety and security are not guaranteed.”
He said youth-related issues remained a concern,
“The police call-out started in 2009 without any initiatives for youths,” he said.
“Last year, a K25 million part payment of the Business Development Grant given to the Enga provincial administration to support SMEs has not supported Porgera youths.
“The K25 million Mineral Resources Enga funding to the Porgera Development Authority has no support programmes for youths.
“When you don’t have the backup plans for youths, how can you protect the gold?
“I encourage the Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited as the major shareholder to think about this.
“Declare incentives and initiatives for youths from the host community – Kandep, Tari and Lagaip,” Pakea said.
He said National Identification Cards must be issued to control people movement.
“There is an influx of people meaning more smuggling of illegal items to make money. Thus we need to control the movement,” Pakea said.