MEDIA RELEASE | 16 February 2012 | ||
| PNG Ports Corporation Limited & Royal PNG Constabulary sign MOA for Port & Harbour Policing Capacity PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNGPCL) and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGPC) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to establish policing capacity and presence in all declared ports owned and managed by PNGPCL throughout PNG. The MOA was signed during a small signing ceremony on the 16th of February this year at the PNGPCL Head Office where both organisations also welcomed the arrival of the new police boats which include Light Support Boats and Assault Crafts. Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Stanley Alphonse said the MOA signals the commencement of the establishment of cop shops and police presence at its ports starting with its major ports of Lae and Port Moresby. PNGPCL will also engage personnel from the RPNGPC for each of the respective ports to man the cop shops and carry out policing duties at the ports. Mr. Alphonse said “PNGPCL will engage its Learning and Development officers to assist with training RPNGC personnel who will be appointed to conduct investigations and carry out police powers of arrest and prosecution against criminal elements found to be operating on the waters within the harbour limits and port precincts owned and managed by PNGPCL based on its internal policies and the various quasi-criminal legislations which it administers.” “This MOA follows the donation of a 5th element 4 wheel-drive utility vehicle to the Waigani Police Station recently (Feb. 9, 2012) with the aim to build and maintain a mutual working relationship between the RPNGC and PNGPCL,” he said. The establishment of cop shops is part of PNGPCL’s Security initiatives for PNGPCL employees and port users to ensure continued safety, security and law enforcement within port precincts and harbor limits. It is also PNGPCL’s desire to assist enforcement agencies maintain border control functions with powers of arrest within close reach to prevent, deter and detect activities that may threaten national security or related illegal activities as ports are points of entry similar to international airports. Therefore, PNGPCL is keen to maintain this MOA with RPNGPC to facilitate the provision of policing capacity which has been non-existent in the past. For more information, please contact: | |||
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