Former MP wants extra police in district

 By FRANCIS POKA

THE crime rate in the Kagua-Erave electorate in Southern Highlands is high and the area needs police presence to address the problem, a former MP says.

Charles Luther, a peace and good order committee chairman, has asked for a police mobile unit to be based in Kagua on the eastern side of the province.

Luther has been involved in peace negotiations between warring clans and says the crime situation is worsening.

He said he had to brave threats during peace negotiations and many lives and properties had been lost during tribal wars.

There were only three police officers manning the station and they could not attend to all cases reported to them, he said.

Some of the cases are resolved through traditional ways.

Luther said with an 80,000 population, the situation was hard to control and everyday people were killed during tribal fights. 

He welcomed Governor William Powi’s announcement that more police officers would be based in the district.

He urged local MP James Lagea and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to support Powi and have mobile units based in Kagua.

Lagea said the attitude of the people should change if they wanted to see development and government services. 

Lagea said he had already committed funds to build a new courthouse and magistrate’s house in Kagua.