By Vasinatta Yama, EM TV, Port Moresby
President of the Australian Senate, Senator Stephen Parry, visited Bomana Police College today, and took a tour of the college facilities.
His visit is focusing on PNG-Australia Policing Partnership and Training.
During his two-day visit which started today, he has already flagged more improvement in the college’s infrastructure.
The senator was accompanied by Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Deborah Stokes, Australia Assistant Commissioner, Allan Scott, Deputy Commissioner Administrations, Awan Sete, and other senior officials.
By the request of the Government of Papua New Guinea, RPNGC and AFP are working side by side in policing law and order, mentoring, and training new police recruits, which is a new phase of their partnership.
Senator Parry admits that infrastructure needs renovation. The infrastructure and facilities at Bomana Police College built in 1960’s and 1970’s are not conducive for learning.
Although some have been renovated and rebuilt, they are not up to standard. There is not enough ventilation, limited classroom space, and are visibly rundown.
Yet, the government is pushing to build police capacity.
Meanwhile, the current police manpower in PNG stands at 6005. By 2015, PNG should expect at least 32, 000 police personnel.
With the assistance of AFP, $A300 million is being pumped into the RPNG Constabulary over three consecutive years, for infrastructure and capacity building, training new recruits and police personnel, and providing advisory roles.
With the new phase of the RPNGC and AFP partnership, AFP is training new recruits. Although the curriculum is the same, they are placing greater emphasis on discipline, ethics, and practical policing.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=UT1t-I7W18w%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
