Police get an increase in budget

POLICE Commissioner Gari Baki was all smiles yesterday when The National sought his response after the Treasury Department announced next year’s National Budget.
The Police Department was among those that got increases allocated in next year’s budget.
“It also calls for prudent management and tightening the belt within the system because there are some areas which we have not got increases at all,” he said, adding utilities were the main problem as the bills were usually high and had been for the last three years.
Mr Baki will brief section heads on Monday on the recurrent budget allocation.
Utilities got K1 million again.
In the recurrent budget the Police Department was allocated K210,042.5 million from K189,802.7 million in this year’s budget.
It was allocated K12.2 million in the Development Budget.
Major highlights for Police in next year’s financial year include : Eastern Highlands police housing programme, Morobe police housing programme, McGregor police barracks maintenance, and the Mt Hagen police station infrastructure upgrade project.
“I am happy with the budget at this point in time with the slight increase in the 2010 Budget,” he said.
He was happy that provincial operations got an increase but, on the down, side vehicle replacement did not get a rise and remained at K1 million.
He also called on the Government to revive and support the offices of Provincial Transport Board (PTB).