Sylvester Kalaut

NCD/ Central Commander, Sylvester Kalaut says a health inspection was done last year by the NCDC Health Inspection Division of which it was deemed unfit for human occupancy.

Kalaut says from the Police Headquarters, the state still owes the contractors some money.

“Once this is sorted, the officers will be moved to the houses at Bomana and renovations will be done to the single quarters,” says Kalaut.

He added the Police Commissioner has ordered for the demolition of the single quarters.

Yesterday a supplementary list and outstanding recipients of the awards were present at Government House to receive their long service awards for their distinguished service to the community through their significant contribution to the country.

Among the 30 recipients was the Minister for Health and  HIV/AIDS and the Moresby North-West MP Michael Malabag, PNG’s first cardinal and Catholic Archbishop Cardinal Sir John Ribat and NCD Central Police Commander Sylvester Kalaut who were also at the occasion to receive their service award.

NCD Central police commander Sylvester Kalaut said this regarding issues raised with the UPNG students who have come out clarifying that they are not planning on protesting rather, they will push for a referendum.

From this, they will hold a vote to see what will be the next course of action for the boycotting students on the ground.

The police will entertain the students only if they exhaust all legal processes as per the peace and good order act.

Commander Kalaut said the court order relates to a previous assembly and does not apply to any new marches that will be instituted.

Kalaut was answering queries about the proposed court order in place where Anjo obtained from the National Court.

The order from Justice David Cannings will not cover his current police command.

Anjo has been stating online that the court order prevents members or any member of the police force from interfering, harassing or intimidating members or any member of the public from conducting a peaceful protest.

NCD Central police commander Sylvester Kalaut tells Loop PNG that the work is at a costing of K500,000

To date the work is running within budget.

He adds that there are also plans in place for the set up of a courtroom to hear minor cases in the station.

Kalaut says he is encouraged by the progress made as it is falling within the set deadline of the renovation, with remandees to be moved in by mid-May once all work is completed.

NCD Metropolitan Police Commander Ben Turi tells PNG Loop that the cells should be sorted out in the next three weeks.

He added that work is progressing on the renovation and upgrades of the holding rooms, toilets and kitchen area as well.

In a recent cell inspection the NCD Central Police Commander Sylvester Kalaut says that all the cells once redone will be reopened to the general populace.

He says the cell issue is an internal matter that he and his command have taken charge of to sort out and do up.

The NCD Central police commander Sylvester Kalaut says that they anticipate at least a month before the cells can be prepared for the NCDC Health inspectors to carry out a site inspection to see if the cells can be used again.

The holding cells were condemned after initial health scares and deteriorating plumbing and drainage systems forced the NCD police command to carry out a unique media and health inspection of the facilities early last month.

In a media brief this afternoon, he challenged media to help him by facilitating for complaints to come to his office so that he can deal with them.

He mentioned last night’s (9^th January) arrest of a police woman in relation to the Condom case was an example of evidence needed by police to act fast and solve a case.

Kalaut says that with the help of the victim herself, police went back and checked the duty roster once they confirmed the date of the incident.

This stems from the case of the video that showed police men intimidating a woman to swallow condoms which has sparked outrage among many online users both within and outside the country.

A protest calling for an End to Police Brutality, Stop Violence against women and Human Rights Abuse is being called for as many users have expressed outrage and disgust at what was documented in the video that was uploaded on Facebook.

NCD Central Commander Sylvester Kalaut says the main thing to focus on is to reach the victim and ensure that she has timely access to health services as well as police and legal help.

Kalaut says that relatives have spoken with him while also handing over the name of at least one of the officers alleged to have been involved in the gruesome act.