Police needs K25mil more

Main Stories, National
Source:

The National, Thursday July 12th, 2012

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE national government is yet to release a further K25 million to the police force for security operations during the general election.As the election enters its sixth week with counting in progress in many electorates, Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga said they were yet to receive the money to top up their budget.
Police initially made a submission for K130 million but were given only K105 million.
Kulunga said from Goroka yesterday hiring of vehicles, fuel, charter of helicopters and paying of allowances to officers on election duty had taken a big slice of the budget.“Hiring of choppers alone cost us K22 million,” he said.Kulunga said he had been reminding the finance department and chief secretary to the government about the shortfall.He said the allowances for security personnel had eaten up a quarter of the budget.
He said officers engaged in election duties in other provinces were paid K200 per day.
He said local police officers taking part in the operation were paid K100 per day.He said allowances for soldiers and prison warders were paid by their own organisations.“We however share resources when we are on the field,” he said.Chief of election security operations Simon Kauba said the election so far was satisfactory despite a few hiccups in some areas of the highlands.He said polling in Chimbu was completed successfully with counting to begin today or tomorrow.He said polling for Eastern Highlands started yesterday.