Wai Rapa and Rufina Peter raise concerns over Western Highlands and Central PPC reshuffle
THE Provincial Members of Western Highlands and Central, Wai Rapa and Rufina Peter respectively, are appealing to Police Commissioner David Manning to reinstate their Provincial Police Commanders who were moved to different positions in a recent announcement on a reshuffle of senior police officers.
Ms Peter has expressed shock and dissatisfaction on the decision made by Commissioner Manning to transfer the Central Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Laimo Asi to a lower level command position in the recent reshuffle.
“While it is the prerogative of the Commissioner of Police to make these decisions we (CPG) would have accepted common courtesy in discussing or at least making the intentions known so we could present our position.
“We have a very good relationship with former PPC Laimo Asi and we have programs and initiatives planned already to undertake during the course of this year and next and the sudden removal, and what seems to be a demotion of our PPC and positioned up in the Highlands in Banz is a slap in the face of the people of Central Province,” Ms Peter stated.
The Central Provincial Member added that currently Central does not have Provincial Police Commanders which leaves a huge void to be filled and she's calling on the Police Commissioner, Police Minister and Prime Minister James Marape to review their decision on Laimo Asi.
“As law and order issues differ throughout the country only an experienced and senior police officer from Central who has built up a network over many years can act and respond to the unique law and order issues of Central Province,” Ms Peter said.
Expressing similar concerns, Western Highlands Provincial Member, Wai Rapa said the swap of Western Highlands PPC John Sagom to the NCD Command and Met Supt. Silva Sika to the Western Highlands does not go down well with him with much disappointment as the CEO of the province.
He said Mr Sagom is the best performing PPC, and he has done a lot for the province by uniting the manpower and carrying out effective policing, making the city safer for free movement of people and business houses.
“Mt. Hagen is the growing city with people migrating into the city from neighboring provinces. We had issues with Law and Order over the past years but through PPC Sagom we worked very well and addressed most of the law and order.
“Please I am appealing to Police Commissioner David Manning to send our PPC back,” Mr Rapa said.
Police Commissioner David Manning in a statement says the deployment of senior police officers is to further strengthen the delivery of security services as the RPNGC continues to rebuild.
The Commissioner said it is essential that the Police Force has the right personnel in roles that draw on their experience and capabilities to more effectively provide for the enforcement of law and order.