The issue about the proposed Bomana police barracks is becoming complicated.
Commissioner of Police, Gari Baki told Loop PNG that it hasn’t been resolved simply because of the fact that Red Sea hasn’t handed over the buildings to the police department and that the government still owes them money.
Baki says the Police Department does not owe Red Sea any money.
“This is a project initiated by the government but is built on police land.”
The project is completed however, Eda Ranu and PNG Power have not connected power or water because Red Sea has not handed over the keys and would not allow them any access to the property.
Baki said he had a meeting with the Chief Secretary and PNG Power CEO last year of which he proposed that by January, all police should be moved into the new barracks.
“I was still pushing for the Chief Secretary asking if they could connect water in the barracks.”
He adds that the issue became more complicated when the Health Department went into Gordons police barracks, condemning the single quarters as unhealthy for human occupancy.
A directive was sent out to the Metropolitan Superintendent and NCD/ Central Commanders giving them instructions to ensure that only those with legal documents of marriage and nuclear families be relocated to the new barracks in Bomana.
Baki says because of the compounded situation in the barracks at Gordons, the policemen decided to do things on their own but he said he had spoken to the Metropolitan Superintendent Turi to resolve this issue with Kalaut as soon as possible.
He adds that after arriving yesterday from Wabag, he received a notice by way of a letter from Red Sea Housing, requesting the department to have the policemen that have already occupied the houses in Bomana to be removed from the premises immediately or they will resort to seeking legal regress.
Baki says the only funding that he authorized back in 2015 under the Modernization Program was the K10 million that was paid directly to Red Sea.
“Other than the that, the government still owes Red Sea money for the houses, we do not know the actual monetary value of how much it owes Red Sea,” says Baki.