Constituents celebrate New Year in churches, says police

MANY people in Hela celebrated the New Year period inside churches praying and making resolutions to live peacefully which was organised throughout the three electorates.
Provincial police commander Teddy Agwi told The National that unlike past New Year celebrations that saw wide spread consumption of alcohol which usually resulted in violence, 2019 – 2020 had generally been a peaceful one.
He said only one reported accident was of a drunk driver whose car overturned causing the death of a teacher near Tari.
He said the teacher’s body was at the Tari Provincial Hospital morgue and police were yet to release the identity of the deceased and make a full report.
“I would like to thank churches who worked in partnership with police to make awareness and organise church activities throughout the festive period,” Agwi said.
“This has resulted in a peaceful festive period making police work easier and there was no violence, tribal fights and other social issues reported.”
Agwi commended his officers as well as PNG Defence Force personnel who worked with churches and community leaders to make the New Year in Hela a safe and peaceful one.
Meanwhile, Southern Highlands deputy provincial administrator Fiebik Kilip said though the festive period in the province was celebrated peacefully, police needed to do their work setting up checkpoints for unregistered vehicles and those smuggling alcohol.
He said the provincial government had supported police for the festive period operations but appealed to the police hierarchy to provide more assistance in future operations.
Police spoke to the people Mendi on New Year’s Eve encouraging them to celebrate peacefully.