Wagambie Jr backs eviction

MADANG provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jr supports Governor Jim Kas’ call for the eviction of people living in illegal settlements on state land.
Wagambie said he supported the move because police records showed that there was repeated stoning of commuters and vehicles along Mero Bridge and the Public Tank areas towards the north coast highway.
“This time we will plan and execute the evictions properly after identifying genuine settlers who contribute meaningfully.
“Unemployed settlers have no excuses but to pack up and go back to their respective provinces,” he said.
He said police reports showed two RD Tuna company vehicles were smashed and five suspects arrested and detained last week.
On Friday, five suspects held up a family in their home near Tumbuna Tracks and drove away in their five-month-old white open back Land Cruiser, while an expatriate and two PNG Power Ltd employees were held up at their homes near Machine Gun Beach at around 4.30am.
Nearby residents set upon them and held seven suspects that police later arrested and detained at Jomba.
Wagambie said the suspects were from New Camp.
He said Mero Bridge and Public Tank settlers never cooperated with police in handing over suspects and they needed to be evicted.
“There is no place to tolerate any criminal elements in Madang town and we will crack down on all elements and loiterers,” Wagambie said.
He said the town was divided into three sectors to enable police to effectively maintain law and order.
The town police station will operate 24 hours to cater for Red Scar to Tusbab Beach and down to the Kalibobo area, while Jomba station would remain the central command to contain areas between Red Scar and Sisiak, New Camp as well as 4-Mile.
The airport police station will be reopened to patrol the Sagalau area to Tanim, along the north coast highway to link with Talidik police.
The K200,000 allocated by Police Minister Nixon Duban is ready to be released at district treasury.
“The money will be used to buy three police vehicles to support six existing ones to promote police visibility and to instil confidence and trust to ensure peace and harmony prevails in community,” Wagambie said.