Security personnel deployed nationwide

By GEORGINA KOREI
SECURITY personnel, comprising policemen, soldiers and Correctional Service men, are expected to be deployed nationwide to help provide public security for the general election, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Anton Billie says.
“Some units were deployed earlier to the Highlands region due to the continuous tribal fights but the remaining police manpower are set for deployment next week,” he added.
He said with the manpower of 10,000 police personnel that would be deployed for the election security operations included the police mobile composites in the Highlands region.
“We will be supported by 500 Correctional Service personnel and 1,000 soldiers,” he added.
He said the focus of general election security deployment of the joint forces would be mostly on the highlands provinces because of the past bad experiences.
“All the provinces in the highlands region are high risk areas, as far as the general election is concerned,” he added.
He said with the ongoing tribal fights by warlords in Tari, Porgera and Mt Hagen, more security personnel would be deployed there to ensure that the public get to exercise their democratic right to elect leaders without any threat or intimidation.
“The security personnel deployed to the hotspot will patrol along the highway from one province to another to help each other when chaos breaks out.
“Other security personnel will also be deployed to hotspot coastal provinces like Milne Bay, Madang and West New Britain.
“I wish all our security joint task force members all best and go serve the country with pride to protect the democratic rights of all Papua New Guineans,” he added.

Milne Bay bans liquor

By AILEEN KWARAGU
MILNE Bay commander Superintendent Peter Barkie says there will be a complete ban on liquor from today till the end of the general election.
“This means no outlet or hotels will be allowed to sell liquor (until the return of election writs on July 29),” he added.
Barkie said the ban was necessary for public safety and security given the rising number of alcohol-related violence in the province.
“Our security manpower is also limited. So, we have recruited special constables to work with us to provide security in the general election,” said, adding that the constables would undergo training next week before they could be deployed to polling sites. Meanwhile, National Capital District (NCD) Metropolitan Superintendent Gedion Ikumu said: “Alcohol consumption should be banned. We are extremely concerned with alcohol and drunkards at the four polling sites in Port Moresby.
“After the general election, there is then no reason to continue with a ban.”
He said police proposed the period of ban to the NCD Election Steering Committee yesterday, considering Police Minister William Onglo’s appeal to all governors to ban alcohol consumption.
“We have discussed with NCD governor Powes Parkop to consider the proposed ban aimed at licensed liquor dealers in the city.
Parkop told The National yesterday that a total ban on alcohol consumption would not be an option as “we will need to make provisions for businesses”.