The Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC) through its Popondetta Project Office recently hosted a handover ceremony of two refurbished police quarters at the Sorovi Police Station in Popondetta, Oro Province. The recent ceremony was attended by official members of OPIC including the General Secretary Mr. Kepson Pupita, milling company representatives, police personnel of Sorovi Police Station and the community of Sorovi Village, which is mostly made up of oil palm growers. OPIC General Secretary Mr Pupita when handing over the two refurbished houses to the Sorovi Police Station stated that it has been the goal of OPIC to contribute positively towards the communities they operate in, and working on the police quarters was paramount to bringing peace and harmony back into the community. Pupita also mentioned that with the increase of law-and-order issues in the Sorovi community, it was a timely gesture for OPIC to complete renovation work on the two houses to allow for effective police presence back in Sorovi. The refurbishment of the two police quarters will now ensure that police personnel are back in the community and ready to perform their duties and maintain peace within Sorovi. Mr. Pupita also put forward a challenge to the community to work together with the police to ensure there is peace and safety because this in turn will have a positive impact on oil palm development within the province. "Oil Palm development was designed with the aim of alleviating poverty within the country; therefore, we must look after our oil palm projects so that our people can continue to earn an honest living through the oil palm industry." He also took the time to remind milling companies within the province to take ownership of small holder projects and provide effective assistance and guidance to oil palm growers where necessary. Project Manager of OPIC Popondetta Project said the refurbishment of the police quarters came at a cost of twelve to thirteen thousand kina and thanked the General Secretary for prioritizing funding to make this happen. The total cost of building the two houses was estimated to be over K12,000.00, and OPIC has pledged to continue work with the communities and create positive impacts within the six divisions. Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Ewai Segi upon receiving the keys to the two houses expressed gratitude to OPIC for the assistance given at such a time when law and order issues were prevalent in the community. PPC Segi highlighted that the police force has been experiencing setbacks in infrastructure as well as manpower and this assistance from OPIC will boost the morale of police men working in the province. "I take this time to thank business houses such as OPIC for coming on board to help the community through such initiatives." "These refurbished houses will be utilized by two of our police officers and so we are expecting constant police presence here to attend to law-and-order issues promptly," PPC Segi said. With the official handover of the two refurbished houses, OPIC Popondetta Project looks forward to a better and safer working relationship with local oil palm growers.