The 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment in Taurama is focused to ensure APEC is securely delivered.
This role is taken to heart, as the regiment is tasked to be the military institution to lead and assist police with security during the event.
The troops were given more encouragement on Friday from Minister responsible for APEC, Justin Tkatchenko at the Commanding Officer’s beginning of the year parade.
While preparations are in full swing, one of the greatest concern and challenge is security.
Tkatchenko is however confident that with the support of bilateral partners; security will not be an issue.
“One of our major issues that we have to get right, and we will get right, is the security of our world leaders and all our international guests, come November this year.
“Security for this event is a major priority and I want to say a big thank you to the Australian Government for the last four years of working together with the PNG Defence Force and our command, to ensure that our soldiers and Defence Force is prepared for this event.”
The Minister also extended his gratitude to other bilateral partners as well.
“Also the partnership with New Zealand, China, Indonesia, and those others that have contributed to the Defence Force over the last four years in their preparations, I Just want to say thank you on behalf of the Government.”
Meantime, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, Lt. Col. Boniface Aruma, said while the challenge is to deliver a secure environment for APEC, professional standards must be maintained at all times.
“Over the course of the coming months, we will embark on a lot of realistic and demanding training. This training will demand a lot of commitment and dedication from each and every one of us.
“The manner in which we carry ourselves, the manner in which we relate or interact with our people, the stakeholders, and our international partners must be of the highest professional standards at all times.
“It is incumbent upon us to portray the positive image to the world. It is us that must demonstrate, competence, confidence, and reliability and in doing so we will win the confidence of all the participating economies,” he added.
Chief of Force Preparations, Col. Siale Diro on behalf of the Commander of the PNG Defence Force, echoed similar sentiments.
“Task Group Mero, have no doubt in your mind as to what lies ahead; the significance and the importance of what lies ahead for APEC.
“We will have the largest economies on earth, that have the largest and most powerful militaries on earth coming to our shores. We must therefore support the police in providing a safe and secure environment for our friends to come to our land. That is the task at hand.”