PNG CORE concerned about the introduction of Gold Police if the National Gold Corporation Bill is passed

The PNG Chamber of Resources and Energy (PNG CORE) has expressed alarm about the proposed introduction of a "gold police" that will come about if the proposed National Gold Corporation Bill is passed.

President Anthony Smare explains that these police along with employees of the Singaporean company, Refinery Holdings Pte Limited will be "vested with the ability to arm themselves outside the Firearms act and have sweeping powers to search and seize property and detain Papua New Guineans.

The bill once passed will protect NGC employees and all its subsidiaries. This captures the concept of an authorized officer who is an employee of the NGC and its subsidiaries.

“The authorized officer will have the ability to be armed outside the firearms act. The ability to exercise certain police powers that are given to the gold police that's created by this act, but also given to authorized officers, which are employees of this company”, said Mr. Smare.

The PNG CORE president further explained that they don't have to get a gun license from the police commissioner.

He said, “What it creates is a special class of employees in the country. The employees of a privately owned company, majority controlled by foreigners.”

PNG Core says, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is the only valid police force in the country and should be supported and funded.

Given the state of gun violence in the country, all usage of guns by private citizens should be regulated by the Firearms Act.

Prime Minister James Marape says, everything is done according to law and there are provisions in the constitution that allow for reserve police and or subsidiary police to assist the police commissioner in carrying out certain police duties.