Christmas Message from Police Commissioner Gari Baki

2015 has been a challenging year for Papua New Guinea, one characterized by change and progress.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s will and

determination to protect and serve the people of Papua New Guinea continues undiminished.

For Papua New Guinea, the successful Pacific Games in Port Moresby in July this year was perhaps the highlight of 2015.

Everyone, including members of the RPNGC, the PNG Defence Force and the Correctional Services came together to raise the PNG flag higher.

The Games experience is indeed invaluable for PNG’s determination to host the APEC in Port Moresby in 2018.

For the RPNGC, perhaps the highlight of 2015 was the elevation or promotion of 12 senior officers to the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police. This single promotion was a change of the old guard and heralded the beginning of a new and even better style and level of policing in Papua New Guinea for the future.

These new appointees have been assigned to various important portfolios developed under the Constabulary’s restructure exercise as part of our goal to modernize the Constabulary.

Most of these officers are not only young and vibrant, but are demonstratively articulate in their career. I am sure the decision we have collectively taken as a management will inspire many young officers to raise the standard of policing in PNG.

I must admit that although certain important developmental issues were undertaken by the Constabulary under the 2013 Modernization program, the pace of growth and expansion has been painstakingly slow because of numerous factors including the tedious tender and bidding procedures and processes which caused prolonged delays resulting in costly variations and late acquittals, which ultimately affected the timely remittance of funds from Treasury.

As a result some projects were either uncompleted or abandoned but in most cases, new barracks facilities were built and delivered by the contractors much to the satisfaction of my management.

I must commend former Commissioner Sir Toami Kulunga for initiating the Modernization program which also encapsulated recruitment and acquisition of resources for the Constabulary.

In line with the government’s objective of increasing the Constabulary strength up to 10,000 by the year 2017, the Constabulary is now recruiting new intakes but our biggest objective now is to get the restructure recommendations approved by the government and simultaneously accelerate the construction of more infrastructures nationwide to accommodate the increased manpower and resources.

Our nation’s socio-economic growth and expansion depends largely on a stable economy encouraged by good governance, increased productivity within the resource sector and more competitive spin-off activities for our people. To achieve such goals and objectives, there has to be peace and good order in our society, and the investment climate must be conducive.

The development of the resource sector, more particularly the LNG project, has brought on huge investment opportunities for the nation, presenting new policing challenges as well for the Royal PNG Constabulary.

These developments continue to attract more foreigners into the country, which is good for investment and growth but the trend is also posing a risk to our national security.

Our sovereignty is threatened by transnational crimes such as money laundering, human trafficking, importation of dangerous drugs, and corporate fraud, to name a few.

In other words transnational crime is a global phenomenon and Papua New Guinea is no exception. The RPNGC and other relevant law enforcement agencies must work in partnership to explore and adapt new advanced methods of policing, to effectively detect and prosecute such crimes.

The RPNGC will continue to work closely with other state agencies such as Customs and Immigration, Fisheries, Internal Revenue Commission and all other relevant state entities, to effectively enforce the law and maintain peace and good order in our communities.

The Government’s decision to reintroduce the concept of Australian Police deployment in PNG shows our commitment to accept external help from our neighbour, in all facets of development.

I must thank the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Government for funding the construction of new office buildings inside our suburban police stations, in Port Moresby and in Lae. I must also commend them for the delivery of two new buses for NCD Police Operations and for facilitating a series of on-going training programs for our members both within the country and abroad in Australia.

The Government of Papua New Guinea is ambitiously funding and expanding all government services in the country, to ensure essential government services are enhanced for the betterment of our citizens.

In March 2013, the government allocated K267m funding for the Constabulary’s Modernization program, purposely to help revitalize much of the Constabulary’s dilapidated infrastructure, recruit more manpower, and train and re-equip the Constabulary against new emerging crime trends evolving across the globe.

Through the Office of the Minister, a submission was made to cabinet to expand more funding for the Constabulary and since then cabinet has approved increased funding of K3 billion to cover all aspects of development within the Constabulary.

Furthermore the government approved the funding of 6,000 new houses for police with procurement for this construction phase to begin early next year.

This huge commitment, if implemented is expected to propel the Constabulary to new heights.

Members of the Constabulary must live in decent homes built with quality materials and conveniently located in close proximity to their work stations so they can come to work on time and serve with commitment, loyalty and dedication.

The construction of new infrastructure and acquisition of new resources may bring half the change into the organisation but to completely revolutionize change in the Constabulary, all policemen and policewomen must accept spiritual reforms in their hearts and minds.

My vision is to redeem the Constabulary and restore discipline and pride in the hearts and minds of policemen and policewomen.

The barrage of adverse media reports on social and mainstream media has brought the image of the Constabulary into disrepute. The continuous incidents of abuse by policemen have created a feeling of animosity between the police and members of the public.

My management is committed to rebuilding this trust and confidence of the public in the Constabulary and build a new relationship based on mutual trust and understanding and respect for the law and authority.

Police work in Papua New Guinea is tough because our people are tribally and culturally acquainted or connected, aggressive and more often defiant but as professionals I expect policemen and policewomen to be tolerant, fair and honest in the dispensation of their duties and responsibilities.

The Constabulary under my leadership will train and mould leaders who can understand the issues confronting our people and firmly apply the laws without infringing on the rights of our citizens.

I intend to expand the current recruitment training at the Bomana Police College from six to eighteen months to allow the Constabulary to churn out intakes who are disciplined, well matured and subservient to the demands of policing, in Papua New Guinea.

I will increase the recruitment age-gap from 18-35 years, purposely so that young aspiring men and women, as well as matured citizens already employed in the workforce are given the opportunity to join the Constabulary.

My priority now is to restore public trust and confidence in the hearts and minds of our people, and encourage them to be partners with the Constabulary in the fight against crime.

In 2017 the National General Elections will be staged in the country and thereafter the nation will host the APEC meeting in 2018. With these huge national and international events coming up, the security challenges facing the Constabulary are indeed massive but I am confident that the government will provide the necessary funding and support to ensure the RPNGC provides the best security for these important events.

I want to remind our fellow Papua New Guineans that peace and good order in our societies can only be effectively maintained if every citizen regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or social status decides to take ownership of this huge responsibility.

I call on all Papua New Guineans dwelling on our beautiful islands across our great oceans, on the mountain tops, in the valleys and across the length and width of this great nation to embrace change this Christmas and make a difference for our country.

Let us unite in the true spirit of Christmas and set a new benchmark for our children’s future and the destiny of this great nation.

Christmas is a time of celebration, but it is also a time of reflection, a time to forgive and reconcile and a time to make peace.

As we prepare for the festive season, we remember our colleagues who have died while serving the Constabulary in various parts of the country. In particular I wish to remember the late Assistant Commissioner Teddy Tei who died tragically in a vehicle accident this month. He was an experienced senior police officer who had much more to give to the Constabulary and to the country. May God comfort his wife and children and the Nengka-Oiamb tribe of the Western Highlands.

I want to also thank every policeman and policewoman across the nation for their continued loyalty dedication and commitment to the Constabulary and the nation. Please continue to serve your people without fear or favour.

The Constabulary has already imposed security operations in major centres across the nation and will continue to enforce these operations into the Christmas and New Year periods. Members of the Constabulary will be working during the festive season to make our communities safe and secure.

Police records show that accidents are more prevalent during the festive season and therefore I appeal to all fellow citizens across the nation to be mindful of your safety and security.

I urge you all to celebrate in the true meaning of Christmas, by congregating in prayer and worship because Christmas symbolises the birth of our Lord Jesus.

On behalf of all members of the Royal PNG Constabulary, I wish all the people of Papua New Guinea a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year 2016.

God bless you all.

Author: 
Press Release