Moves to strengthen the Bougainville Police Service is a major concern of the Royal Papua New Guinea Police Constabulary with the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
PNGRC Commissioner, Gari Baki is currently in Bougainville to undertake discussions as part of the ABG-New Zealand Community Policing Project and also to launch the election operations of the Bougainville Police Service.
The Commissioner met with ABG President John Momis to discuss important law and order issues on Bougainville.
President Momis raised the issue of police visibility in Bougainville as a deterrent to crime and what ways to further empower the Bougainville Police Service.
The President also raised the matter of infrastructure development where the ABG had allocated K2 million for additional police housing but the issue was looking at the capacity to manage construction projects and welcomed Commissioner Baki’s input in the matter.
The President also initiated discussions on continued police training for the Bougainville Police Service and was pleased to learn of Commissioner Baki’s initiative to enhance RPNGC training capacity at the regional level and the possibility of establishing a police training facility in Buka.
“Whilst I welcome the considerable work undertaken by the RPNGC to date in recruiting new personnel, I welcome advice that you are of the view that a critical part of any future recruitment strategy should be attracting qualified young Bougainvilleans to the force,” Momis said.
The President said he considered such an approach to have significant merit and welcomed the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Commissioner further.
Momis further thanked the RPNGC for their continued commitment to the Bougainville Police Service and also made a commitment on behalf of the ABG to work in partnership.
Commissioner Baki has also assured the President that he would take these matters under serious consideration and provide the continued support that has seen progress of the Bougainville Police Service since its inception.