As the largest Maritime province in the country, policing is a key aspect in maintaining law and order to further economic and activities in the in the Islands of Milne Bay.
However with lack of Maritime logistical support, something that the Provincial Police Commander, Senior Inspector Ben Kua said will have an adverse effect in the years to come.
PPC Kua says since he took office earlier this year, travel by sea to other centres in the province has become quite a challenge for the men in blue and continues to be so.
For some time now they have been reliant on assistance from the stakeholders such as the Provincial Government.
“At this point as I am speaking we literally have no Water Police off-shore, we’re literally handicapped with our policing in and around the islands.”
Kua further added that the command is lacking the off-shore operational capabilities due to nil number of trained Boat-men to patrol the waters and maintain law and order on the islands.
He stated that they struggle to move around but is thankful that the Provincial Government has been able to assist whenever the Command has requested of them.
Meanwhile PPC Kua has also raised an alarming concern on the increase in consumption of illicit substances.
“There are unconfirmed reports of trading drug trade in town but we are doing our very best to crackdown on it.”