Govt puts foot down

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill said Parliament yesterday overwhelmingly endorsed the Government’s package of new laws to deal with rising crime.

“These measures are the toughest and the most-wide ranging, introduced by any Government since Independence. 

“They are a direct response by my Government, and the National Parliament, to the demands many citizens have made,” O’Neill said.

“Now the tough measures are law – and they include procedures for the actual implementation of the death penalty and much higher penalties for stealing and misappropriation. 

“I am appealing directly to all our fellow citizens to join with the Government to begin the demanding task of significantly reducing crime, and making our communities safer and free of corruption.

“If we work together, if we support our police in their difficult work and if our police do so with discipline and commitment, then we can make Papua New Guinea what we all want it to be – safer, happier and peaceful.

“I want to stress that by introducing the death penalty, and tougher penalties for a range of crimes, it is just the start of the fight against crime. 

“And it is a fight we are only going to win if we all work together.”

Some of the steps being taken by the Government include :

• Recruitment and training of new police personnel;
• Prime minister negotiating a hands-on policing assistance programme with the Queensland Government in Australia for up to 150 police personnel, with experience in fighting crime to work side by side with Papua New Guinea police men and women in police stations across the country. 

A similar number of our police personnel will gain experience working in police stations in Queensland;

• The Government giving priority to the establishment of at least one island, or remote prison, which will house the most dangerous criminals. Work will be done to improve security at all major prisons.
• Establishing an Independent Anti-Corruption Commission to fight corruption; and
• Involving churches and community groups more closely in the fight to make our communities safer.

“With these and other measures, we are already committed to implementing,” O’Neill said. 

“They give us a real hope of reducing crime and lawlessness, and making our cities, our towns and our villages, much safer for all.”

The prime minister urged all to help make these measures work across our nation.

“Criminals must not be protected; it is important that when you see criminal behaviour, you should contact the police immediately.   

 “It is also important that the private sector, including major mining and other resource companies help the police fight crime,” he said.