by Eric Haurupma – EM TV, Port Moresby
Sogeri Police Barracks in Central province needs a complete rehabilitation, due to its rundown facilities.
Deteriorating housing facilities and broken water pipes are causing a water supply problem in the barracks.
Senior Inspector Stanley Baroro, who is on compassionate leave, said Sogeri Police Station is one of the oldest police stations in the country.
“It was built in the early 1980s and to date, many of its facilities are rundown. Water pipes and bathroom facilities and sinks need maintenance,” he said.
Currently, they are using the creek for washing. Without tanks to capture rainwater for drinking and cooking, they have had to purchase water bottles from shops in Port Moresby.
The travel into Port Moresby poses a difficult situation for them.
Inspector Baroro said the barracks’ closeness to the Rouna Dam, which supplies water to the whole of Port Moresby, should see them receive adequate water supply first.
“Sogeri Police Station houses eight police personnel, including those 11 from its 15 Mile substation.”
Because Sogeri is home to many government assets and corporate businesses in the area, police presence is very important.
Their operations cover the whole Sogeri area, including Adventure Park at 15 Mile. Police personnel are also facing housing problem. Temporarily, two officers have been accommodated at Iarowari Secondary School and Sogeri National High School.
Meanwhile, Sogeri Road is also deteriorating increasingly with potholes.
Inspector Baroro is appealing to the national government, local MPs and concerned authorities to look into rectifying these problems.
(Eric Haurupma is a UPNG Journalism student).
https://youtube.com/watch?v=JN3-ljtkxJw%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
