After news circulated of the sexual assault of a young girl in remote Koroba in Hela Province, Prime Minister James Marape has called on the Police Commissioner to receive a petition by concerned citizens.
Prime Minister James Marape was in East New Britain to launch a project when he made this call.
“I have asked the Police Commissioner to attend to receive the petition and for police to do their job in making arrests on all law-and-order related issues including assaults of all forms on our daughters and mothers.
“My government’s policy focus is more money to Police, Magisterial and Judicial services in 2023 than other government of pasts years.”
“We have passed tougher laws like life imprisonment for rapists and gun handlers, so it is now on law enforcement agencies to do their jobs.”
“It cannot be the Prime Minister doing the police and magistrates’ job. Police must do their job of arresting offenders, prosecuting the case, and securing convictions on those who break laws in our country.”
“My job is to pass laws and allocate enough money, both of which we have secured for 2023. Police right across our country must do their jobs.”
Marape said that they will continue to increase funding and capacity building for the police, courts, and correctional facilities over the next 10 years to address these issues.
He added that he will continue to work towards empowering the law enforcement agencies to convict those that commit offenses against the women and daughters of this country.