Soldiers’ pay to be adjusted for parity with police

By SCHOLAR KASSAS
SALARIES for Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) personnel will be on par with the other two disciplined forces soon following an approval by the Department of Personnel Management (DPM).
This was according to Defence commander Major-General Gilbert Toropo during a closing parade at Murray Barracks, Port Moresby, on Friday. He said this was the first part of the Defence Force’s three-year focus on personnel pay gap review.
Maj-Gen Toropo said Defence budgeted for the review since this year, however, pending approval, the implementation was delayed.
But, he said the pay rise would occur in the third pay of next year.
Maj-Gen Toropo also said the force had been working with Comrade Trustee Services Ltd fund to grow it.
Recently, he said they initiated a home ownership scheme in Lae, aimed to add value to their fund and would see personnel leaving the force with better packages. “These are service conditions issues that can improve our standard while in the force and upon retirement,” he said.
Maj-Gen Toropo said his focus was on the infrastructure, both rehabilitation of existing infrastructures and new development.
He said recruit training at the Goldie River Depot, outside of Port Moresby, was deferred this year due to water issues.
Maj-Gen Toropo said it affected the recruits and staff but they were hopeful the issue would be restored in time for training next year. Maj-Gen Toropo commended those in the frontline for conducting operations on land and maritime borders.
“I have provided priorities to the department and directed engineers and immediate focus on Goldie River.”