By Sharlyne Eri – EMTV News, Lae
On Friday June 14, hundreds turned out to witness Madang MP, Bryan Kramer, officiate his first official duty as the Police Minister in Lae, Morobe Province. Kramer and other dignitaries were at the Omili Police Station yesterday afternoon to officiate the ground breaking ceremony for a new police station.
The crowd that gathered however, were there for one thing only – to get a glimpse of the new Police Minister himself. The crowd included students from Omili Primary School as well as people from nearby communities. They all were not invited to the actual ceremony – however, surrounded the Police station – some on their roof tops, just to get a glimpse of Mr Kramer.
Bryan Kramer told the crowd especially the youths that gathered, that it is only a few policemen who pick on youths and explained why they might behave in such manner.
“The job of a policemen is very difficult, especially when there is not enough funding. Most are underpaid and without proper housing.”
Accompanying the Police Minister for the ground breaking ceremony among others, was Police Commissioner, Gary Baki, Lae MP John Rosso, and Lae Metro Superintendent, Anthony Wagambie Jnr.
The proposed police station is made possible through a public-private partnership with ICTSI South Pacific Limited who will fund it with K505, 000.
Lae MP, John Rosso, said such partnerships help the province with development due to the fact that the province gets only K10 million annually.
“Please take care of such initiatives because they are not funded by the Government.”
“We are lucky to have such companies who assist us with the development of our city,” said Mr Rosso.
After the ground breaking ceremony, the crowd got to have a close up glimpse and a hand shake from the Police Minister.
