Soldiers thank former govt

THE PNG Defence Force joint operation command paid special tribute late last week to the former government for its trust conferred on its operational command through finance and logistical support during the 2012 elections operation.
The tribute followed the arrival of 50 new vehicles from Mt Hagen via Lae that were completely paid for at a cost of K5.8 million and used during the election period by the joint operation command.
In a joint statement, joint force commander Col Gilbert Toropo and acting support commander Lt-Col Alfred Kayoka thanked the previous government during the handover of keys last Thursday at the defence transport section at the PNGDF headquarters at Murray Barracks, Port Moresby.
Toropo said it was a timely decision to buy the vehicles instead of hiring as in past elections and other operations as the vehicles could all now be used for other operations, training and administrative purposes.
Toropo said money that was often allocated for hiring of vehicles could now be used for other purposes.
He thanked the NATEL joint task force commander Lt-Col Ezekia Wenzel and Operational Commander Lt-Col Tony Aseavu for the care of the vehicles during the three months of the operations.
The vehicles are expected to be distributed to all PNGDF units in Wewak, Lae, Port Moresby and Manus naval base.