Police post to monitor betel nut trade

Landowners at Kikiri in the Oro Bay local level government area have endorsed the setting up of a police post in their area to monitor the movement of the betel nut trade between Northern and Morobe.
Provincial police commander Chief Inspector Lincoln Gerari told The National that he was writing a submission to the Ijivitari district development authority (DDA) to fund the post which would also serve as the new base for a sea patrol.
He said the endorsement followed a council meeting where the Gawase clan from Kikiri area  approved their land to be used for the police post.
“It is a good thing that the landowners have come forward to give us permission to use their land, so we only need funds to set up the police post,” Gerari said.
“The councilors, who are also landowners in that area, agreed with the idea because they have seen an increase in law and order problems caused by the consuming of homebrew and drugs.
“I am working on a submission to put to the Ijivitari DDA for the funding of the police post, plus three houses for police officers.”
His plan is to have Kikiri as a sea patrol base with a boom gate in the area to monitor the vehicles, people and the betel nut trade.
Gerari said the police post would be manned by six community-based constables (CBC) from Ononda, Kikiri, Kurou, Kausada, Bakubari and Kellerton.
The councilors will set a rate for the betelnut bags when they are brought through the boom gate.
The boom gate is to ensure that all the vehicles are checked of the contents and every betelnut bag will be charged a fee.
The revenue collected from the fee will be used to assist the CBCs who will be manning the gate and the area.
“Part of the funding from Sohe DDA will be used to build the three police officers’ houses because I want to put the water police base there.
“The CBCs will report to the commander of that police post every morning and carry out normal policing duties,” Gerari said.
He said this would help a lot.