It is important to learn more about the threat of terrorism and be more knowledgeable as no one in this day and age is immune from it, says Police Commissioner Gari Baki.
Commissioner Baki made this comment when he officially opened a five day counter-terrorism awareness program yesterday, held at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby.
The 5 day workshop is an initiative of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Policing Partnership and is being attended by members of the APEC Joint Security Task Force. The program offers participants the opportunity for networking and learning from key counter-terrorism experts from Australia and the United States of America.
The program is aimed at further preparing PNG for the 2018 APEC and will focus on a number of key themes and will:
- Provide participants with an understanding of the potential threat and consequences of a terrorist act;
- Raise awareness as to what response will be required if a terrorist incident occurs;
- Explain the nature and capability of assistance that may be available from international agencies; and
- Reinforce the importance of cooperation between agencies, and the sharing of information, in a timely fashion.
Commissioner Baki urged participants of the program to give their full attention to the presentations and take from them as much as they can to enable them to deliver a safe and secure APEC year.
“I encourage you to engage with the presenters, acknowledge their expertise and identify what you may be able to do in your workplaces to develop ongoing counter-terrorism strategies,” stated Baki.
“These strategies need to be focused at minimising risks and enabling swift and efficient responses to deal with potential threats or incidents, both now and beyond APEC PNG 2018.
“This a team game, and the RPNGC needs everyone to play their part to ensure we continue to have a safe and secure APEC year as we have only 97 days away before APEC Leaders Week approaches in November.
“The way in which we conduct ourselves during this period will influence the world’s perception of Papua New Guinea and may impact upon future economic opportunities for this country. This program will assist us all to provide a professional approach to countering terrorism in our country,” Commissioner Baki said.
He thanked the AFP, through the policing partnership, for developing the comprehensive program. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Investigations Advisors for their work on the program; in particular Andy Thorp and Geoffrey Cotterill.