Porgera needs ‘leaders’

DEPUTY Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi has urged leaders in Porgera, Enga, to be present in the district and attend to the ongoing law and order issues before seeking assistance from the Government.
Addressing a gathering at the Porgera station recently, Justice Kandakasi said a lack of leadership and a breakdown in community discipline were the reasons for the ongoing law and order problems.
The gathering was witnessed by community leaders including members of the Porgera law and order committee as well as the Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and other local stakeholders.
“Where are your leaders? They are supposed to be on the ground attending to the people’s concerns and issues arising in the communities,” Kandakais said.
“Leaders are chosen by the people.
“It is the responsibility of leaders to bring people together and raise their concerns to the higher levels of Government.
“The kind of leadership here is reflective of the type of community that exists.”
He said communities and leaders in Porgera had themselves to blame for the high level of crimes prevalent in recent times stating that while they called for Government support to help address the issues, they were also harbouring criminals and allowing them to roam freely within their communities. “You yourselves are harbouring the criminals you talk about.
“You are sending the police everywhere and yet you are not helping the situation by providing information to the security personnel.
“Take control of your own communities first and instill some discipline before you call out for Government help,” Kandakasi said.
He appealed to the communities to be serious about law and order and come forward to provide information and support to police and security personnel in the province.
Contingent commander of the special deployment personnel Chief Insp Luvi Florian told the gathering that fixing Porgera’s law and order problem was everyone’s responsibility and not just for the police and Defence Force personnel.
He expressed his disappointment at the lack of cooperation from the communities in providing information for the police for them to effectively do their work.
“I cannot just go into communities looking for criminals,” Chief Insp Florian said.
“You have to provide that information to help me and it’s very disappointing that since December we have not been getting that community support that we need.”
Various local community group representatives and community leaders also addressed the gathering calling for stronger leadership and direction toward addressing Porgera’s law and order issues.