Talasea gets police barracks

 PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill opened a new K12 million police barracks in Talasea, West New Britain, last Friday.

Fed up with increased law and order problems in their area, the people of Kavugara provided a block of land freely for the barracks to be built to ensure permanent police presence there.

Construction of houses and a single’s quarters started in 2006 and was completed this year. 

It is now occupied by members of MS19, PNG’s newest police mobile unit.

O’Neill commended the people for providing their land freely for the new police barracks.

“Your province has huge po­tential in agriculture and tourism. 

“Law and order problems have been a setback for progress. 

“This should now change. You can now make the most of the 

opportunities presented by the growth of our economy so realise your full potential,” he said.

Village leaders also asked the Government to build a ring road and high school.

The prime minister promised to deliver both, with planning and initial work to start this year, and full funding provided in the 2014 Budget.

O’Neill said with the country’s high population growth 

rate, the upgrading and construction of infrastructure such as roads, schools, police housing, and hospitals was vital to accommodate the increase.

“We have to grow the eco­nomy to accommodate these increases and create opportunities for them. That is why we are working now.”