Gulf needs more police to implement state of emergency: PPC

POLICE need a manpower of about 600 to implement the Covid-19 state of emergency security in Gulf that has borders with eight other provinces.
Provincial police commander Maria Jones said they had a manpower of 200, including reserves, auxiliaries and community police constables, along with regulars and water police.
“We have set up six checkpoints in Gulf and Kikori but still need to set up at a couple of other areas,” she said.
“We have deployed 27 policemen to the checkpoints at Apanaipi, Ipakota, Belmoi, Kaia and Faiya and will also be setting up checkpoints at Kantiba, Kotiganga and parts of the Taurelakikau once we have the logistics sorted out.”
Jones said she was deploying her policemen without personal protection equipment (PPEs) as they had not received any supplies from police headquarters.
“So we have no PPEs or thermo scanners but we are continuing to man the checkpoints and do the best we can,” she said.
“Because it’s our job to protect the people and the province, so we are doing all we can to provide security and at the same time create awareness on Covid-19.
“Our people here are also simple people who respect authorities so that has made it easier for us to create awareness, but the challenge is to ensure that the awareness is carried out all the way down to the last person in the community.
“We also have the flooding situation in the province, so we are working on both the SOE Covid-19 security response team as well as the flood that has affected many villages.” Jones said that they were looking at increasing manpower to at least 600.
She also said that they needed more water police in the province to monitor ships coming in.
“I would also like to take this time to thank the provincial government, led by Governor Chris Haiveta, and the provincial administration for their support,” she said.