Housing issue hinders police mission in Pomio

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
THE entire Pomio district in West New Britain is managed by a lone female police officer, says Police Commissioner Gari Baki.
He told The National that they had plans to send more police officers to assist her but accommodation was an issue.
“Chief Sergeant Mary Kalkal is the only officer in the district and there is call for us to move more police officers over there,” Baki said.
Baki said he had visited Pomio and found out that there was no accommodation.
“This tough lone officer is very fortunate to have accommodation. She lives on the top and there is a station at the bottom for her to use,” he said.
“I have spoken to the member for Pomio and we are looking at making an arrangement because there is support being given by the company that is developing oil palm over there.”
Baki said the company was going to assist police to build a facility that could take in about two or three police officers. That would mostly be for single officers.
“So hopefully that is a task for the divisional commander for New Guinea Islands to complete so that there is additional officers to support the police woman.”
Baki said she was not the only one in the country to be serving alone as there were quite a number of other officers that were operating single-handedly – both men and women.
Meantime, he said they have recalled the Western police commander Superintendent Joe Puri to return to Port Moresby to be redeployed to a new position.
“This is due to some incidences involving him and the custom of sorcery in Daru so we have to get him out of there,” Baki said.
He said Brian Kombe was appointed to take up the Western post.