Three Defence Force officers promoted

By Alphonse Porau
Three officers in the Papua New Guinea Defence Force have been promoted to the rank of colonel and were posted to their respective appointments yesterday.
Lt Col Andrew Dopeke, Lt Col Anthony Oawa and Lt Col Albert Palauva were given their titles by Defence Force commander Brigadier-General Gilbert Toropo at the PNGDF headquarters in Port Moresby.
Toropo said the organisation needed leaders who were innovative and would continue to deliver according to the Defence White Paper.
“As you all know, we have been working very hard with the Defence White Paper to try to improve our systems and professionalism in the PNGDF.
“And we have been trying to find the right people to occupy various positions so that they can continue to lead and grow this organisation into a professional organisation that we can deliver our constitutional mandated responsibilities.”
Toropo said the three had occupied various positions in the PNGDF and the management had total trust in them to deliver in their new appointments.
“The appointments that they will be occupying are very critical at this stage, especially when we are going through a time when resources are very scarce in terms of manpower and most importantly finance.  And we need leaders at all levels who can stand up and be innovative and continue to deliver in the primary responsibility and the development of the force,” Toropo said.
Lt Col Anthony Oawa challenged the officers to set a standard so that everyone after them would follow in their footsteps.
“There are lot of things our senior officers lack when they were in this rank so I don’t think we should continue that process.
“We should serve the best interest of the force so that whoever comes later will follow,” Oawa said.
Oawa was appointed chief of personnel, Palauva as defence attaché to New Zealand and Dopeke as defence attaché to the United Nations in New York.