Government trying its best to improve law and order: Marape
Prime Minister James Marape says the Police force is gradually scaling up to reduce the epidemic law and order catastrophe in the country.
At present there at least 6300 police personnel in Papua New Guinea working with available resources and funds disposed to ensure law and order is maintained across the country.
A massacre that occurred in Enga province which left about 59 killed prompted a series of questions enquiring the government’s stance on the law and order situation in the country particularly in the Highlands region.
Mr Marape when addressing the national parliament today, said the government under his regime are focused on having the law and order sector improved.
“Our government’s policy is a better law and order situation in our country,” Marape said.
“It is in any government interest just like it is in our government’s interest to ensure law & order is improved in our country.
“Despite us having only 6300 police men on strength today, we’re trying our absolute best to ensure they’re resourced and to put fire out in a way law and order problem prevails and to ensure rest of our country is maintained in its law & order is concerned.
“Our own government’s focus is to ensure training of police is being run all the way until we build our police force to a 10,000 men police.”
With PNG’s population estimated at 12 million, the question on how to combat law and order issues aligned with tribal warfare’s in parts of Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands have been asked on many occasions with the reduced number of security personnel tasked on a daily basis.
Social services and economic activities in these resource project areas are a serious concern for the government at present with the ongoing inter-tribal fights.
To date, the government has deployed various security operations to curb the deteriorating state of law and order in the upper region but the lack of funds, resources and capacity has downplayed the efforts of Police assisted by Defense force.
In hopes to ease the situation, Mr. Marape is opting to strengthen the security force through bigger budget allocation for Police to carry out their duties as well as engaging in political agreements with Australia and United States to upskill police and defense force.
“This year budget, over K200m has been put to Police. Last year Police were given over K200m. Combined with the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) that we have signed with the Australian government,” Marape said.
“We’re looking at this year alone and going forward, close to a billion-kina worth of resources.”
Marape said under the medium-term development plan (MTDP), the Police will be mobilized to get training, resources, equipment, CIS support and magisterial services support to pave way for some serious progress in the law and justice sector in country including police capacity building.