ACTING DEPUTY Police Commissioner Operations Mr Donald Yamasombi handed over 12 brand new police vehicles to Oro Provincial Police today at the Boroko Motors Showroom in Port Moresby.
The vehicles were purchased under the Kind-for-Kina scheme initiated by Police Commissioner David Manning. This is a scheme whereby the provincial governments allocates a certain amount of money and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) pays the other component to restore the fleet of the aging police fleet of vehicles nationwide. This is the second project under the Kina-for-Kina scheme. The first was for the Madang Open electorate.
Mr Yamasombi said during the presentation that for police to do its job effectively it needs tools such as vehicles.
The total cost for the vehicles is about K2m. Mr Yamasombi thanked the Governor for Oro Hon. Gari Juffa and the Oro Provincial Law and Order Committee for the support given which he said will go a long way.
“Purchasing equipment is one thing but taking care of these vehicles on the police side is also very important. Some of the equipment that we purchased for Madang were being carelessly used and we are now taking corrective measures to see how we can properly manage these assets because without this equipment we can’t do our job properly,” said Mr Yamasombi.
He assured Governor Juffa that the money his province had spent in purchasing these vehicles for police will be put to good use.
Governor Juffa was pleased to receive the 12 police vehicles which included 10 Nissan Patrols, a Mitsubishi single cab and a Mitsubishi double cab. He thanked the RPNGC and said this is basically signaling the development of Oro’s efforts to make Oro Province the model police command for provinces.
“We are starting with the vehicles. We will be purchasing other equipment which includes uniforms, firearms and other technical equipment that is necessary for policing in Oro,” Governor Juffa said.
He said Oro Province has also flagged the Police on its intention to have a mobile squad based in the Oro Province as well so that it can take care of Oro, Milne Bay and other provinces as well.
Mr Juffa thanked Boroko Motors for the fabulous job in preparing the vehicles.
In concluding Governor Juffa said, “We want to bring back the old RPNGC days where the Force was well disciplined and we were proud of our police force.”
Mr Yamasombi meanwhile urged leaders from other provinces to come forward and help to acquire such resources that will assist the police reach out to remote places around the country where the bulk of the population is.