Start ops early: Top cops

By SYLVESTER WEMURU
PROVINCIAL police commanders from around the country had the opportunity to raise their concerns regarding issues in their areas ahead of the 2022 National General Election during a conference in Port Moresby yesterday.
The commanders all agreed that security operations needed to start early with assessments made in order to deploy adequate manpower and resources to cater for the election.
The 2022 election security operation conference involved all provincial police commanders, divisional heads and personnel from police headquarters in Konedobu.
One of the common themes throughout the talks was the need for funding to implement security plans in the districts and provinces.
Acting Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said he would let the Police Department know how much could be allocated to security operations from the election budget once he got this information from the Government.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (operations) Samson Kua said the pre-election operation funding would come from police headquarters and not from the Electoral Commission.
He said all provincial police commanders could liaise with their respective provincial governments, who would also be funding pre-election operations.
The issue of writs will be on April 28 and nomination of candidates will be open on the same day and close on May 5.
Polling commences on June 25 and ends on July 8 with counting beginning on July 9.
The return of writs is expected to be on or before July 29.