Everybody needs good neighbours

By PISAI GUMAR
KEEPING peace and good order in towns and cities in PNG, and around the world for that matter, can be a difficult matter that most people leave to police. But, it has been recognized that policing is not the sole responsibility of the men and women in blue and needs input from people in the communities in which they work.
Most times, the population of an area far outweighs the number of cops, making it difficult to keep a firm tab on crime and unruly behaviour.
Lae reported a relatively quiet Christmas and New Year period last year with much of this attributed to a partnership between police and youths.
A Neighbourhood Crime Watch group consisting of young people from settlements around the outskirts of Lae has been set up to work with police to keep order in their respective areas. NCW comes under the umbrella of the Morobe provincial law and order committee and is working closely with the police’s community policing unit.
All police units, 400 personnel in all, under the Lae Metropolitan Command, were out in force during the festive season, units that included the sectional response unit (SRU), Mobile Squad, road traffic unit, as well as reservists. Police presence was visible in all pockets of the city’s suburbs and settlements.
Christmas and New Year festivities came and went without as much as a burning of a tyre on the streets, the burning of rubber being a popular way to celebrate the passing of these days in the past.
Celebrations were subdued and the city was unusually quiet and peaceful, especially at nights.
Merriments were more family-oriented and mostly centered around the home. Clubs, hotels and motels were also popular places to hang out over the past week.
Hilmar Wong Park, located by the sea at Voco Point was another favourite picnic and swimming spot with families flocking there on masse over the break.
While kids enjoyed K1 boat rides and dips in the sea, adults took care of the barbecue or watched leisurely from the beach with the cool sea breeze providing extra comfort from the heat.
The festive season did not stop the betel nut trade and it was normal business as usual as dinghies called in and departed Voco Point while large overseas ships could be seen in the distance moving in and out of the main Lae port.
Voco Point is an area that was once notorious with crime due to the nearby settlements. The Wong Tim family built a police station and built the picnic spot about six years ago to try to curb the pickpocketing and other crime that took place there. The police station was burnt down last year but a new one now stands in its place, again all paid for by the same family.
The beachside recreation park is once again a delight for Lae residents and visitors.
The NCW programme mainly involved young men who are encouraged to enforce law and order in their respective communities and is proving to make a difference.
The idea of a community-based watch group for the festive period was first initiated at Abong settlement in Back Road by Bob Kingeyong and Sam Gani after block holders agreed on the concept in 2015.
Abong is in ward 14 of Ahi local level government with seven stages comprising 345 block holders and more than 6,000 people.
This year, the NCW programme caught the attention of Anthony Wagambie Jr and his public relations officer Chief Sergeant Cathy Rimbao, whose involvement also attracted help from the Morobe provincial law and order minister Kiwas Nayos and Ahi LLG president Sam Agi.
Rimbao said it was important that everyone in the community keep an eye out for each other to ensure that their communities are peaceful.
People can call police free toll number 70903300 to report any illegal and criminal activities.
Awareness talks to promote safety in communities have been held in China Town, Abong, Kaiser-LBM, Bumayong, Tent Siti, Igam, Limki, Kamkumung and Milfordhaven Primary School.
Milfordhaven Primary School has become the pilot school for NCW program and includes encouraging young pupils to change their mindsets against bad behavior and bad habits.
“Human life is precious and cannot be replaced with silver and gold therefore security and safety of human lives is crucial and we must set some foundation on how to protect our lives in respective communities,” Rimbao said.
“People in communities know where steam is brewed, where transit and selling points for illegal drugs and they know the havens for escapees and know drunkard husbands and fathers or mothers that assault each other and NCW initiative is a community oriented program to minimize these crimes and violence,” she said.
The NCW initiative also helps the work of ward councilors and peace officers and helps alleviate social ills in the communities.
“Every single person is responsible for their own behaviour and it is up to everyone to try to contribute one good each day towards peace in their family, community and society,” Nayos said.