Senior police officers from all over PNG are in Kimbe, West New Britain Province to attend the week-long Commissioner’s Conference.
Over the weekend they were given a tour of some parts of the West New Britain Province over the weekend.
Deputy Commissioners of Police, Assistant Commissioners of Police, Divisional Commanders, Metropolitan Superintendents, Provincial Police Commanders and the various headquarter based Directors had a fun-filled day on Sunday with a mass at Bitokara Parish and a field day to the hot springs at Pangalu village, both in the Talasea Local Level Government area.
Commissioner of Police Gari Baki said the purpose of the excursions were to get them out from their comfort zones in their working environment and refresh their mind before they are stuck in the week-long Commissioner of Police conference.
“It’s about refreshing their mindset away from their work environment and freshens themselves. The week-long conference will see them discussing issues of significance to the Constabulary so they need to enjoy the beauty of this place,” he said.
The conference themed, “Addressing institutional impediments to effective command and control” was officially opened by West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel before a parade at the Independence Park.
The eye-catching trip was the hot-springs at Pagalu village, a possible tourist hot-spot. Many officers have never visited that part of West New Britain but the conference was one of those rare opportunities that brought them there.
Northern Divisional Commander Peter Guinness was impressed with the hot springs that pour out hot water and continuous steam.
He said he had heard about those hot springs and the Conference meeting had given him and others a rare opportunity to visit and experience.
The officers were given a warm welcome at Laheda village, the home of Commissioner Baki with the traditional ‘kalapim pig’ custom, part of welcoming visitors to their houses.
Entertainments were provided by Police Band from Port Moresby, Tatok Bamboo Band from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville with a number of local “singsing” groups.
Picture from http://vevesworld.com/photo/cities/kimbe/01/