Kauba: Parinjo’s death a great loss

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE death of Wewak police station commander, Charles Parinjo, will greatly affect preparations for the general election there, police said yesterday.
Deputy Police Commissioner (operations) Simon Kauba said Snr Insp Parinjo was drawing up operational plans for the general election.
“There is a big vacuum. It will take some time before we find someone to replace him,” Kauba said.
Parinjo, a former provincial police commander, was killed on Saturday night as he was trying to disperse a drunken mob obstructing traffic at a section of the West Coast Highway at Kaindi.
He said Parinjo had a long life ahead of him but that was cut short by some lawless people.
Kauba said a new provincial police commander had been appointed by the commissioner and he would assume office sometime this week.
He said the new PPC would replace Insp Vincent Pokas.
“Pokas was replaced because he has simply lost focus of command and control of police in the area.”
He said the threat on police investigators at Boram Airport and the burning down of the Angoram Police Station were examples of “a breakdown in command and control”.
Kauba declined to name the new PPC but said he was someone with the rank of superintendent and had vast experience in policing duties.