Lae MP Loujaya Kouza symphatises with police struggles in maintaining law and order in the city, but admits difficulties of being heard at the national government level.
She says the current manpower of 370 is not enough to cater for the population of over 300,000; recruitment is being addressed but funding woes are crippling the drive.
She says while it is difficult to be heard by the minister for police to equip Lae metropolitan superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr and his personnel, money from her district was being distributed to the ward councilors to carry out law and order programs.
"I am no way near the minister for police so we are empowering and upskilling people because crime must have a reason or source," Ms Kouza said.
She says there is a need to beef up manpower and logistics but her cries have fallen on deaf ears.
(Lae MP Loujaya Kouza with two ward councilors Carol Yawing, left, and Kakare Nomane at the Ginigoada Literacy Finance training graduation on Monday.)