Law and order issue an obstacle for businesses: Official

THE law and order situation in Madang may be an obstacle to business investment and growth of financial institutions, says Bank South Pacific Financial Group Ltd’s chief executive officer Robin Fleming.
He said this in response to The National’s question on the potential for further investment in Madang.
“We’ve talked to the people of Madang and they’re still in fear of crimes like pickpocketing and robbery which is more prevalent than we’d like,” he said.
Fleming however confirmed that a business plan for a sub-branch in Bogia was being discussion.
He said this recommendation was raised by a board member during the senior executive meeting last week.
“We’re having them put together a business case to see how realistic and practical this is; how many staff we’d need and if it looks positive, we may establish the branch to take pressure off the main branch in Madang,” he said.
BSP has its main branch in Madang town and sub-branches on Karkar Island and another in Ramu (Gusap).
Fleming stressed that the law and order situation was not just in Madang, but throughout the country, hence BSP’s emphasis on its mobile banking products and the limit on cash handling.
“What we are trying to do is to introduce more products that don’t rely on cash like mobile banking products, in particular our USSD for money transfers, school-fee payments, electricity purchase, phone credit top-ups and even purchasing goods just using a phone at registered mobile merchants,” he said.
“It’s a good way of dealing with potential law and order issues by giving customers opportunities other than bringing cash to the branches.”
Meanwhile, Madang police commander acting Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang has called on governor-elect Ramsey Pariwa to focus on law and order.
He said Madang’s reputation had been damaged by a lack of law and order and effective policing.