City Hall and chamber push for safe NCD

By ALISON ANIS
PORT Moresby city residents are about to see an improvement in security and a change in the way women and children commute at major bus stops in all four electorates.
This will be made possible through the launching of bus stop safety wardens, an initiative by National Capital District’s Yumi Lukautim Mosbi project in partnership with Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the community.
NCD metropolitan commander Supt Joseph Tondop launched the programme at Tabari Place,  Boroko, yesterday on behalf of Governor Powes Parkop and in the presence of more than 1,000 people.
Yumi Lukautim Mosbi coordinator Rabura Aiga said the bus stop safety warden was about giving a chance to young people to volunteer as wardens at main bus stops in providing security for women, girls and children travelling during peak hours.
“There are many complaints and reports of women and girls being harassed or their bags being snatched at bus stops by petty criminals,” Aiga said.
“We hope that through this programme we can be able to reduce and make bus stops safe places to travel.”
He said young people who volunteered as bus stop wardens “will have the opportunity to go through skills training with the Ginigoada training development centre”.
 Aiga said more than 1,000 youths from the 12 bus stops that included Gerehu, Waigani, Boroko, Koki Market, Gordon, Hohola, 6-Mile, Erima, Sabama, Malaoro and others were expected to take part in the programme.
“There will be 12 supervisors who will be provided with mobile phones to communicate with a team leader,” Aiga said.
Business houses supporting the initiative include Digicel PNG, which will be donating mobile phones, City Pharmacy Ltd, which will be providing refreshments for the wardens, Security Plus and the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Tondop said he was pleased with the initiative as it would help complement scarce police manpower.
He said he would instruct his men to show support whenever it was needed.