Late former police comm laid to rest at his village

The National National

THE body of the late former police commissioner Robert Nenta was laid to rest on Sunday at his Ralgaimp village outside Mt Hagen, Western Highlands.
The 69-year-old father of four died two weeks ago in Mt Hagen after a short illness.
Nenta was commissioner from 1997 to 1998 serving 14 months during the Sandline Crisis.
He was the second man from the Highlands region to hold the position and was the first from Western Highlands to be appointed.
Coming from the Jika-Melakembs tribe, he served the Royal PNG Constabulary from 1970 to 1998.
His elder brother, Allan, a former PNG Defence Force soldier, spoke highly of his brother who loved his country and his family.
“Bob, as we affectionately called him, was born on May 23, 1952, and joined the constabulary on Jan 27, 1970, as an 18-year-old,” Allan said.
“He served diligently till he left the constabulary and continued to serve the country as high commissioner to Singapore and as director of the national intelligence organisation.
“Representing the former commissioners, Gary Baki spoke of the man he served as a police officer and his role within the constabulary.
“Bob was not one who stood around waiting for something to happen, he moved officers within his command and continued to maintain that brotherhood even after he left the Constabulary.”
Commissioner David Manning told mourners that during Nenta’s role as the commissioner, he was just coming out of the Bomana Police Training College as a young probationary constable.
“I represent the new leadership of the constabulary, having joined the constabulary 23 years ago as a young cadet in 1997, I want to pay homage and tribute to all these great leaders, eight of whom I have had the fortune and privilege to have worked under,” he said.
“I joined when Nenta was commissioner and, since then, have served eight police commissioners.
“I am grateful to all of them for their leadership in taking the constabulary to this stage and for having a hand in my career at one stage or another.”