Police Commissioner visits Bougainville
By Anthony Kaybing
Mutual contribution to strengthen the Bougainville Police Service is the primary concern of the Royal Papua New Guinea Police Constabulary along with the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
PNGRC Commissioner, Gari Baki is currently in Bougainville to undertake discussions as part of the ABG-New Zealand Community Policing Project and also to launch the election operations of the Bougainville Police Service.
The Commissioner had the opportunity to meet with ABG President Chief Dr John Momis to discuss important law and order issues in Bougainville.
President Momis raised the issue of police visibility in Bougainville as a deterrent to crime and ways to further empower the Bougainville Police Service.
The President discussed the infrastructural development of additional police housing, for which the ABG has allocated K2 million. The issue at hand is the capacity to manage construction projects and the President welcomed Commissioner Baki’s input on the matter.
The President also initiated discussions on continued police training for the Bougainville Police Service and was pleased to learn of Commissioner Baki’s initiative to enhance RPNGC training capacity at the regional level, including the possibility of establishing a dedicated police training facility in Buka.
“Whilst I welcome the considerable work undertaken by the RPNGC to date in recruiting new personnel, I welcome advice that you are of the view that a critical part of any future recruitment strategy should be attracting qualified young Bougainvilleans to the force,” Momis said.
The President said he considered such an approach to have significant merit and welcomed the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Commissioner further.
Momis thanked the RPNGC for their continued commitment to the Bougainville Police Service and also made a commitment on behalf of the ABG to work in partnership.
Commissioner Baki has also assured the President that he will take these matters under serious consideration and provide the continued support that has overseen the Bougainville Police Service's progress since its inception.
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