Central governor calls for improvement in Defence force capabilities

Governor of Central province Rufina Peter says the government needs to prioritise improving the conditions of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.

Ms Peter said the government should reconsider the policies to better PNGDFs capabilities in their line of duty as one of the important arms of security.

“It's now time that the country needs to re-look at the policies surrounding our armed forces as an independent nation,” the madam governor said.

“We must ensure that our armed forces are equipped to defend our country and to be able to quell whatever happens, both internal conflicts but also external disturbances, and as a government we need to now build and strengthen our strategic intelligence and tactical capabilities of our defence force.

“I think we have run loose for too long now, and we need to re-look at that and really build and strengthen our defence force, both in strategic intelligence but also in tactical capabilities of the force.”

She joined the rest of the country to observe the Remembrance Day early last week by completing a seven-day walk on the Kokoda Track from Maiola to Owers Kona in honor of Central Province people who served and took part in World War 2.

In recognizing the efforts of the armed forces [particularly PNGDF] and the role they played in terms of general peacekeeping and other law and order engagements during the war, Peter, stressed for more investment to be done across the three discipline forces.

“As government we must invest in the living and working environments of our armed forces, both the defence force, the police force, and the correctional institute service,” she said.

Miss Peter said enlightening the proficiencies of the forces would reduce the country’s rising law and order issues and restore confidence to protect the civil society.