MP plans new police station for Karkar Island

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday August 6th, 2013

 PEOPLE on Karkar Island will have a new police station built at Taur, Sumkar MP Ken Fairweather says.

He made the announcement during a visit by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill last week.

Police Snr Const Desmond Bege welcomed the plan, saying it was time a proper building was built for police.

He said the new station building would provide proper storage of public complaints and files on law and order problems on the island.

He said the abuse of illicit substances such as drugs and homebrew was rife on the island.

“These two things are becoming an increasing problem among youths leading to numerous social problems. Even drugs are grown on the island up in the mountains,” he said.

He said one of the major problems affecting work was the lack of manpower.

But despite that, Bege said they were now actively doing a lot of awareness around the island since the widely-publicised assault on an American scientist a few months ago.

Four youths were arrested for the attack on the American who was working in the mountain.

“After this shameful act by youths on Karkar, we are trying to get people to change their mindsets and become more aware of the dangers and consequences of such drugs,” he said.

There are only four reserves, 10 auxillary members and 10  regular policemen serving the 70,000 people on the island.