Staying safe in Port Moresby

The National Letters

I am calling on the National Government and police to address the issue of kidnapping in Port Moresby.
The once safe streets of the city are now not safe, especially for our women and girls.
It’s like walking through hell.
We don’t know if there is a group doing this, or if individuals are responsible.
I recently approached workmates (mostly women) regarding this issue and they came up with ways to help women and girls stay safe. These are some simple rules to keep you safe:

  • If you under 18 years old, always obtain consent from your parents before you go anywhere;
  • avoid going out frequently because someone may be stalking you;
  • avoid partying or clubbing;
  • never trust your boyfriend because he may be working with others to harm you;
  • not all kidnappers are enemies – some of them may be known to you as friends;
  • avoid dark areas and always remain vigilant;
  • avoid crowded areas;
  • parents should be responsible and not send girls alone to school;
  • take care when going out with friends and don’t completely trust them;
  • girls and women should start walking in pairs or groups and avoid moving around on foot at night;
  • avoid posting your whereabouts on Facebook;
  • avoid late evenings at the bus stop waiting for PMVs;
  • get on company cabs or cabs without tinted windows;
  • do mass awareness through the media (TV, newspaper, radio) and alert businesshouses to arrange transportation for their female staff;
  • girls should not be going around by themselves, but have an escort;
  • Let others know as soon as possible if you notice someone behaving in a strange manner; and,
  • Carry something to defend yourself, like a knife or screw driver.

Women and girls should understand that it is not safe to be walking alone, even if it is only walking next door to buy betel nut.
Always be in the company of others.
Never go to a place or a street that you haven’t been to because the enemy is watching.
This is a wake-up call for all of us. As parents, we need to know where our children are and it is our responsibility to make sure they are always safe and always in sight.
Always walk in groups, especially girls, to and from school, or if you have a car, drop them off and pick them after school.
Let it known to them that they should inform you of their whereabouts.
Give them phones, so that in the event of an emergency, they can call you.
Check up on them every time they leave school.
I asked about what we can do to prevent kidnapping. This is the feedback I got:

  • If we are careful, there will be no kidnapping;
  • alert police straight away and report any strange men seen walking in your area;
  • encourage police roadblocks;
  • provide awareness using social media, bulletins, radio, etc;
  • alert friends and relatives straight away;
  • police should start setting up roadblocks to catch kidnappers and predators and not focus attention on taxi drivers, betel nut sellers and street vendors;
  • put youths on community watch at public places to be on the lookout for predators;
  • new police recruits should be doing foot patrols to ensure the safety of the public;
  • schools and businesses should host free, simple self-defence classes for women and girls;
  • there should be 24/7 toll-free telephone numbers that deal exclusively with cases of kidnapping to make it easier to locate the victim;
  • spread awareness about the issue of kidnapping, especially through social media;
  • when moving in public, women and girls should be vigilant and pay attention to their surroundings;
  • parents should ensure that girls are accompanied when they leave the house;
  • the community needs to step up and be ready to help and stop women being abused or harassed;
  • have more Seif Meri buses; and
  • Install more CCTV cameras.

We can all fight this together.

Sidney Ilam, NCD