Election ‘most risky operation’

The National National

THE general election is one of the most risky domestic operations the police are involved in every five years but people can make the difference this year, Police Commissioner David Manning says.
“Policing is everyone’s business,” he said.
“The people themselves need to start developing that attitude and the genuine desire to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner in the elections.
“Our presence and our involvement is very much to address those threats to a peaceful process.
“Minister (William Onglo) and I will be going around and talk to our key partners up in the Highlands.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen increasing threat and risk levels all around the country and especially in our urban areas (Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen) and some previously peaceful provinces becoming significantly challenging for us.
“So it is definitely in the hands of all our people.”
Manning urged the people to work together to deliver a successful election where everyone would have the opportunity to vote.
Police Minister William Onglo said the role of the Electoral Commission was to run the election and the work of the police was to provide security and ensure the election was conducted in a safe environment.
He said there were a lot of issues, especially up in the Highlands, based on experience.
“I want to bring this message to our people around the country,” he said.
“Let’s work responsibly.
“Let’s assist our Electoral Commission together with the joint task force to do their jobs.”

Constabulary plans to build up manpower

THERE is an urgent need to build the police force capacity from operational capability to manpower in order to improve policing in the country, Minister William Onglo says.
“Our numbers have greatly reduced,” he said.
“We have no new recruits over the last three/four years (so) after the elections getting the number up again will be one of our main (priority areas).
Onglo said the United Nations standard ratio was one policeman to 450 people (1:450) but in PNG the ratio was 1:1,400.
He said the welfare of the policemen and women needed to be improved as well.
He said a 10-year police corporate plan was launched recently and should see modernisation of the force.
If the government provide consistent funding support over the next 10 years, it would take about K3.6 billion to bring up the police capacity at all levels, Onglo said. “We are going
to change the way we are doing policing by reducing the number of policemen and women in the headquarters and get more into the districts,” he
said.
There should be 10 per cent at the headquarters, 20 per cent in the province and 70 per cent in the districts, Onglo said.
“To do that we have to build accommodation and police stations.”
Having three armoured vehicles in the country was part of capacity building and more would be brought in the future, the minister said.
In terms of building the normal regular fleet, talks were held with Ela Motors to bring 80 vehicles which would be dispersed to all the provinces in order to cut down on hire cars, he said.
The eye-in-the-sky (helicopter) was down for the last five years and talks were held with bilateral partners to have the air wing back up.

Beli advises officers about duties
PM IN TARI … Prime Minister James Marape inspecting a parade in Tari, Hela, on Friday. PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) commander Major Gen Mark Goina said that the PNGDF had deployed teams to Western Highlands, Enga and Hela for the pre-election operation. He said PNGDF personnel had begun deploying in April due to law and order issues faced in the western end of the Highlands. – Picture supplied

ALL policemen and women in East Sepik must undertake medical check-ups as a requirement for engagement during the election operations, provincial police commander Supt Albert Beli says.
Beli, who will be addressing a parade at the Somare Stadium in Wewak today, stressed that all police personnel needed to be in districts during the election period.
“Police men and women in the six districts will have their own colours,” he said.
“No one should be providing escorts for candidates into another district.”
Following the parade, there will be a dedication service at the Wirui Cathedral.
“It is important to put God first in our work,” Beli said.
According to the provincial liquor licensing board’s decision on the restriction liquor sales during the election period, Beli, who is the deputy chairman, said with the issue of writs on Thursday, the sale of alcohol in the province will be restricted.
Only hotels will be allowed to sell alcohol from May 12 to May 19.
From May 19 to July 29, there will be a complete ban on the sale of alcohol.
Police will also be keeping a close eye on homebrew producers.