Powi wants commissioner, minister to resolve police conflict

By YVONNE KAMBIBEL
SOUTHERN Highlands Governor William Powi wants Police Commissioner David Manning and Minister William Onglo to resolve a police conflict in his province urgently.
In the absence of Onglo in Parliament yesterday, Powi appealed 

to Prime Minister James Marape, the Government and Manning to take the matter “as a matter of national importance”.
“This fighting between officers in uniforms demonstrated a lack of discipline by a law enforcement agency,” Powi told Parliament.

William Powi
He said a group of police officers in a mobile squad had confronted provincial police commander ACP Martin Lakari and that led to a commotion among themselves and the public in Mendi.
“As we know, Southern Highlands is a difficult province to manage and for a discipline force to fight among themselves is not a good reflection of the law and justice sector in my province,” he said.
Powi wants the Government to intervene and restore law and order in the province.
“Bring law and order back into the province,” he appealed to the Government.
Powi said the position of ACP who looked after the western end for Hela and Southern Highlands was vacant and the Government should consider appointing someone to take it up.
Marape, who responded in the absence of Onglo, assured Powi that Onglo and Manning were investigating to resolve the issue.