People who have fled tribal conflicts in the highlands and now residing in Port Moresby city, have been warned to behave themselves or return back to their homes.
That is the warning issued by Prime Minister James Marape when speaking at the recent opening of a new police station at 9 Mile.
While commenting on Moresby North- East Member of Parliament (MP) John Kaupa for the initiative to build the new police station, he also strongly warned people who escaped from tribal fights and are coming into the city, to respect each other and live in harmony with the city residents and not to break the law and cause disharmony in the community.
He also said the new Bill that had been passed in Parliament will now help the police to punish people who do not abide by the law of this country. PM Marape said the Counter Terrorism Bill that was passed will now help police to come hard on those who break the law.
Meantime, Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jnr also during his speech, talked about the difference between law- and- order and who is responsible for enforcing them. He said police are doing fine in enforcing the law in the country, but each family unit and the individual had failed their part to enforce order in their respective homes and that is why the country is facing a lot of law-and-order problems.
He said when there is no order in each home, that will lead to more people breaking the law. He said when a family unit or a community is in order, there will be fewer lawbreakers and there will be fewer jobs for the police to do.
Minister Tsiamalili, while thanking MP John Kaupa for the much-needed infrastructure, said the police department will work closely with him to fight the law-and-order problems in his electorate.
Commander NCD and Central Provinces acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Turi, who was there to welcome and witness the opening of the police station, thanked Moresby North- East MP and the government for their support in building the police station. He said this will now help the people living in the Moresby North- East area to bring their complaints to the police station to seek police service.
He said a new police station commander had been appointed and he would commence duty as soon as possible to make sure the people were served by the police around that area. He said the new Police Station Commander is Inspector Leonard Wai.