Marape praised for helping cops

 A YOUTH leader has praised Finance Minister and Tari-Pori MP James Marape for giving three vehicles to police in Hela.

Thomas Talu, from Kawenda village in the Tebi local level government area, said although Hela was the home of the liquefied natural gas project, many people were not behaving.

“This is an important project that will transform Hela, however, the people are not seeing it that way,” Talu said.

He said despite police efforts to combat law and order issues, people did not abide by the laws.

Talu said the limited number of vehicles police had was the main constraint in securing the province and the initiative by Marape was a joy to many people.

“Tari town is the centre of Hela and people are carrying bush knives and other offensive weapons and drinking alcohol in public places,” he said. 

He said sometimes locals liked to retaliate when police tried to stop their illegal activities.

“Hela has been in the dark for many years and the birth of the province has brought light; and many developments are taking place while many are yet to come. People must begin to change their mindset and embrace those developments,” he said.

The three vehicles were given to the Hela task force, mobile squad 10 and the Tari police station.