Crime on the rise in Port Moresby

CRIME is on the increase in Port Moresby and do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
Many incidents go unreported.
Even if the victims report them, they know that they can expect little action from the police.
It is not unusual for the police to seek some “assistance” before they do anything.
Almost every day, at least one person or family is being held up.
It is a frightening experience for children.
In the past couple of months, one housing community in Waigani has seen at least one robbery every week, before they finally decided to change the security company.
It has come to the point where people fear going out in the evenings.
They go to work, and when the office hours are over, they return home and lock themselves in.
Is this how we should live?
Where are we heading?
Some complain about the way Fiji has gone, following the military coup but the country is safer than PNG.
One can walk around Nadi at night without fear of being held up.
Try doing that in Port Moresby or any “city” in PNG.
Recently, a vehicle broke down at the top of the Poreporena freeway.
The driver phoned for assistance but within minutes, he was surrounded by several raskols armed with knives.
They fled when they saw a police vehicle approaching, but not before relieving the driver of his wallet.
At the so-called Boroko shopping area, suspicious-looking characters abound.
The same is happening at Pacific Place.
In the evenings, you have to wonder why there are so many people hanging around outside Crowne Plaza.
You park your vehicle there at your own risk.
Several hold-ups have also occurred at the Port Moresby Golf Club, prompting one member to quip “putt with one eye so that you can also look out for raskols”.
The bottom line is Port Moresby is getting more unsafe by the day.

Concerned
Port Moresby