The Central Provincial Member, Ms. Rufina Peter wants the outgoing Provincial Police Commander, Laimo Asi, to be reinstated to his position as the police boss in the province. The Provincial Member released a statement calling out to the Police Commission, David Manning, to return PPC Asi back to the province, stating that the Central Provincial Government (CPG) has a really good working relationship with the PPC and with important policing initiatives and programs already in place to be implemented, it would be better for the province to retain the PCC and work together to implement them. Ms. Peter expressed shock and dissatisfaction on the decision made by the Police Commissioner to transfer the former PPC to a lower-level command position in the recent reshuffle of commanders in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC). “I saw this in the papers on Thursday (7th March, 2024) and it came as a shock and a great disappointment to me, to the Central Provincial Government as a whole and the people of Central province,” the provincial member expressed. “Basically, we have a very good relationship with the former PPC and we have programs and initiatives planned already to undertake during the course of this year and next, and the sudden removal, and what seems to be a demotion of our PPC and positioned up in the highlands in Banz, is a slap in the face of the people of Central province.” One of the important initiatives that Ms. Peter was referring to is the Peace and Reconciliation program in the Goilala District which resulted in the youths in the villages laying down their arms last week after at least 3 years of crime and violence in the Woitape Local Level Government (LLG). “The leader of that group, Emmanuel Amo, created that rapport with former PPC Central Mr. Asi and because he was on the ground in the community when the youths were laying down their arms, they established their understanding and because of that, Emmanuel is now liaising with other groups in the LLG to also lay down their arms to allow for development initiatives.” “This process is critical for the youths of the LLG and for Central Provincial Government, and for this initiative to be brought to a sudden halt has significant law and order implications and as such, as the Governor of the Province I am very disappointed,” she added. Meanwhile, according to Commissioner Manning, the reshuffle and deployment of senior police officer to new positions is to further strengthen and improve the service of the RPNGC to the people. The Commissioner said it is essential that the police force has the right personnel in roles that draw on their experience and capabilities to more effectively provide for the enforcement of law and order. Nevertheless, Ms. Peter stated that while it is the prerogative of the Commissioner of Police to make these decisions, the CPG would have accepted common courtesy in discussing or at least making the intentions known so that the CPG could present their position on the changes.