National Planning Minister and member for Bulolo Sam Basil said this when receiving a petition from the Morobe Peace and Good Order committee that wanted peace, law and order to be restored in Lae City.
He was accompanied by Minister for Internal Security and Member for Obura Wonenara John Boito and member for Tewae-Siassi Vincent Michaels.
Basil told the gathering that faults of past Governments in not adequately resourcing and funding the police had now become the problem of the O’Neill/ Namah Government.
He said the Prime Minster Peter O’Neil had directed him and his department to look for money to get the police force problems fixed.
He told the gathering that it was true that law and order was a serious problem in the country and the police were understaffed and lacked the resources to properly do their work.
“Twenty years ago, the police force was neglected by past governments and the result is now eating into the societies,” he said.
He said next year his department would look for that money to resource and build the RPNGC manpower.
The Morobe committee pointed out to Ministers Basil and Boito that some of the police vehicles in Lae were bought 12 to 16 or more years ago and must be replaced quickly.
The Mobile Squad 13 that escorted the Minster from Nadzab to Lae, had the same vehicles for over 15 years now, and they needed new replacements.
Basil said with such problem and the law and order situation also in his Bulolo electorate, the police force needed to be looked after properly.
He said the people’s petition was addressed to O’Neill and it would go to him directly by his and Internal Security Minister John Boito’s hands.
He also commended the leaders of the group for their assurance last month that they would not disturb the peace.
“You have been true to your words and I commend you for that,” he said.
He said he would go directly to the PM and present the petition and O’Neill summon all nine MPs of the province, including Governor Luther Wenge to discuss the petition before it was presented to the National Executive Council.
