Police Commissioner

Three Chief Superintendents were promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioners, two to Chief Superintendents, one to Superintendent and one to Inspector. They include:

“As I have mentioned in previous statements, I welcome the audit of funds allocated to and expended by the JSTF,” Commissioner Baki said.

He stated that as far as he was concerned, all allowances for members of the security forces engaged for APEC 2018 security operations have been paid.

Police Commissioner Gari Baki was in Buka on Friday, January 25^th, to open and hand over the keys to the newly built police staff houses at the Hutjena Police Barracks.

Commissioner Baki said the buildings reflect the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary’s determination in building a stronger Police Service in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He said such moves will move the Constabulary forward in the coming years.

He says an investigation will soon commence to find out the cause of the unrest and individuals who instigated it, though members of the JSTF said they were frustrated over the non-payment of APEC allowance.

During the official opening of the RPNGC Water Police Headquarters at Konedobu in Port Moresby last Friday, Baki appreciated the governments of Australia and New Zealand for assisting the RPNGC in some of the work that have been taking place.

He acknowledged them particularly for the provision of police advisors to help the RPNGC deliver the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2018.

Speaking to this newsroom on Monday, Gari Baki said instructions have been issued to have the 37 pass outs locked up at the Gordon Police Station for charges to be laid.

The personnel were detained on March 17 at the police college after they were caught engaging in drunken initiation-like behaviour.

“I’ve also issued instructions that I want them to be suspended and they will be charged and disciplined. That’s the normal disciplinary process.”

Gari Baki said the police department is now looking into the welfare of constables and other rank and file officers in the force.

Furthermore, they are encouraging all personnel to become members of the union.

The commissioner stated this during the signing of the agreement that will see an increment for police personnel.

Speaking at the signing on Wednesday, Baki said it is a requirement that will be established for police personnel as currently, staff who are not members of the Union are also benefiting from incentives given to members.

Baki says this issue has blown out of proportion and it needs to be addressed before another state of emergency, or call out, is required.  

He said collective effort is needed at this point. It is not an issue concerning security or police anymore, and unless there is a matter of law and order, police can only do so much.

Baki said security can be provided. Personnel have already been deployed however, the police hierarchy cannot afford to constantly deploy a large number of personnel every time issues of this nature arise.

Commissioner Baki said the remaining refugees will be convinced to leave the centre on their own free will.

During the weekend, none of the refugees and asylum seekers made any attempts to voluntarily leave the decommissioned Centre at Lombrum.

The PNG officials on Manus including police used a translator from Lebenon to convince the refugees to voluntarily move to their new locations.

Police Commissioner Gari Baki made this comment following the death of Post-Courier’s senior journalist, Rosalyn Albaniel Evara, allegedly from injuries sustained from domestic violence.

“Family, friends and colleagues and even strangers cannot turn a blind eye to domestic violence any longer. They have a duty to intervene and take action,” he says.

“Every member of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is also duty bound to take action. Domestic violence is no longer a ‘family issue’. It is a criminal act and perpetrators can and must be prosecuted.