RPNGC

Lupari, when launching the Election security operations today in Mt Hagen said events like this comes only once every five years for PNG.

He thanked the Commissioner for Police, Commander for PNGDF and the commissioner for CS for taking the lead in the security operations in the country.

Lupari said this is not an easy job for the disciplinary forces and called on the people of PNG to work alongside this men and women who will be at different polling areas to provide security.

Chief Secretary, Isaac Lupari launched the commands of police, defence and CS officers who will be deployed throughout the Highlands region.

Commissioner for Police, Gari Baki when speaking to the 2000 plus officers posed a challenge and told them to take PNG through the Elections.

"This is a challenge that everyone of us will face."

Baki says it is a daunting task considering that there are a lot of issues that are affecting the security preparations leading up to the polling.

The rehearsal was at the Queen Elizabeth park in Mt Hagen today.

This is only part of the 2000 personnel expected to be deployed to the rest of the Highlands region.

Security is of high priority when it comes to elections in the Highlands region as more challenges are expected to rise.

The Chief Secretary to the government, Isaac Lupari, is expected to arrive in the province tomorrow to launch the security operations together with Police Commissioner, Gari Baki.

Police Commissioner Gari Baki is currently in the province to observe preparations of each of the highlands provinces leading into the launch.

More than 300 officers from the Highlands region are expected to attend the election security launch. This includes all Provincial Police Commanders of the region and their Police Station Commanders as well.

Baki said a lot of manpower will be based in the Highlands region considering that the region poses a lot more challenges than other main centres in the country.

The RPNGC farewell program was planned earlier on during Sir Michael’s departure in parliament, but has been adjourned due to the busy schedule of the Grand Chief.

Commissioner of Police, Gary Baki confirms that the program will commence at 2pm.

The ceremonial farewell parade will be a thank you farewell for the Grand Chief’s service.

Members of the public are invited to join to farewell the Grand Chief as well.

Twenty-four police officers including six female officers from nine districts in Eastern Highlands Province (EHP) completing a four-day training on human rights in Goroka on April 4-7, 2017.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training on Friday, April 7, 2017, the EHP Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Alex N’Drasal acknowledged that “Human rights is a very big issue, not only in PNG, but all over the world,” and noted that, “we are trying our best to cut it out.”

Commissioner for Police, Gari Baki, confirmed this today during a conference at the Police Headquarters in Port Moresby.

Baki said only a small contingent of defence and two sections of the mobile squad are still in the province.

The officers were pulled out for a couple of reasons; one of which is to reposition the men and prepare again for redeployment for the elections. The second reason is the issue of funding.

However, Baki says that will not stop them from going into phase two of the call-out operations, which will be the targeted operations in the province.

Commissioner of Police, Gari Baki told Loop PNG that it hasn’t been resolved simply because of the fact that Red Sea hasn’t handed over the buildings to the police department and that the government still owes them money.

Baki says the Police Department does not owe Red Sea any money.

“This is a project initiated by the government but is built on police land.”

The project is completed however, Eda Ranu and PNG Power have not connected power or water because Red Sea has not handed over the keys and would not allow them any access to the property.

Basing his statement on fact sheets released from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Baki says the relationship between Mental Health Service and the Police Constabulary is time honoured and very amiable.

"This day simply makes our relationship solid," he stated during the commemoration of the World Health Day 2017, "Depression- Let's Talk", this morning.

Baki says is happy that his officers were actively involved in the formulation of the National Mental Health Services and are now beneficiaries to the enactment of this Act.