The Assistant Commissioner of Police Logistics, Chris Smith, spent two days in Kikori District of Gulf Province to see for himself how police infrastructure and police officers are operating in that part of the country. His two-day visit brought him to Wabo, Ihu, and Baimuru government stations, where he chatted with locals and the police officers there.
ACP Smith said the visit was a fact-finding mission, and he wanted to see for himself how police accommodation, police stations, and police officers are operating there. He stated that during his visit, he discovered that two police stations in Ihu and Baimuru, which were burnt down by locals, are now affecting police service in the area. He also noted that the police accommodation was run down and needs major changes, and that police manpower is also a concern there.
“With the government’s aim to recruit more police officers, infrastructure is one thing that must be in place to attract more police officers to that location, such as housing, other government services, and good transport services to the main centers. I visited the locations and noted what the management needs to do to help the policing service in the Kikori District. I also want to thank Total Energy, the company operating there, which has been very helpful to locals. During my visit, I witnessed them assisting a woman who had complications in delivering her baby; the Total Energy response team assisted her to the site where she was helped by their doctor. The company is doing great work there, ACP Smith said.
He further added that the three government stations have people living there who need police services. Wabo government station has police houses, and a police station is now under construction, while Baimuru, which had its police station burnt down, is operating in a building at the station. Ihu police officers are operating in the LLG office.
He said the fact-finding visit was very important, during which he managed to speak with some of the community policing officers and the leaders there. His visitation report will be presented to the RPNGC management so they can discuss how best to help. He mentioned that the trip is one of the many trips that the logistics division has planned.
ACP Smith also thanked the Total Energy team, who assisted them while visiting the three locations. He said the Papua LNG project will soon start, and police services must be there to help respond to law and order issues.
End.
