Security measures also on target

PORT MORESBY – With only six months left before the staging of the Pacific Games in July this year, security operations are “on target and looking good”, says Papua New Guinea’s deputy police commissioner for operations.

Jim Andrews gave this assurance yesterday when contacted by the Post-Courier, adding that the positive security prospects of the games are attributed to the government’s political and financial backing for the event.

Andrews says so far the government has released NZ$12.8 million out of the $27.5 million commitment to the police, which leads the games security operations.

“We are prepared, and confident that we will fulfil our operations and we thank the government for its support.

“We are now focusing on manpower and working on a final draft for the operations – everything is looking good,” Andrews said.

He said the funding released is being used for capital purchases which includes vehicles, intelligence efforts and logistics such as computers and high-tech equipment.

Andrews said the remaining funds from the budget, expected before the games start, will cater for the actual security operations on the ground.

It also covers the deployment, accommodation and allowances of 2500 police, defence, and correctional service personnel needed to protect 3000 athletes and officials plus spectators throughout the event.

“The government gave the police the mandate to lead the security of the games and such operations are not new to the police who have been operating in the country for the last 102 years.

“People do not need to panic. We are confident in this because we’ve been manning major operations such as national election so there is no real problem but the challenge is to ensure there are no disruptions of the games,” Andrews said.

He said the games security operations will also ensure measures are in place to prevent criminal elements travelling into the country under the guise of the games.

He said the success of the operations will be a stepping stone for the country’s security capability when it hosts the 2018 APEC meeting.

“The security resources used in the Games will be kept intact and further used for the APEC meeting with added funding from the government,” Andrews said.