Funds set for police transfers

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE Commissioner David Manning says they have funds to provide accommodation for the latest police transfers in the country.
“We still have outstanding accommodation issues for officers who had taken up transfers earlier on,” he said.
“Where possible, we will maintain their current accommodation arrangements.
“We are still addressing our accommodation issues but that does not stop us from making transfers and appointments.”
Meanwhile, sources said officers set to transfer to their new locations would face accommodation problems.
“There are no houses in the provinces for officers transferring in. Some officers in the previous transfer decisions were living in hotels and lodges, incurring outstanding rental arrears that are yet to be paid by the department,” one source said.
“Some of these officers were evicted from the rented properties due to outstanding rentals and went back to their provinces.
“Also, some the officers in the transfer exercise prior to the recent transfer exercise did not take up their posting as instructed. And so accommodation will be a problem in the current transfers.”
Some officers in the current transfer exercise is the National Fraud Directorate director Det Chief Supt Matthew Damaru who will swap places with Bougainville Police Chief of Operations Supt Godwin Dukaduka.
Former National Capital District (NCD) Met Supt Andy Bawa, who was unattached, will be taking charge of the Hela police command.
NCD Met Supt Perou N’dranou will swap with former New Ireland Commander Supt Gideon Ikumu.
Supt Joel Simatab is now the criminal investigations division director at the police headquarters.