The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary last Friday opened K2.3 million worth of new staff housing at the National Centre of Excellence in Bomana outside Port Moresby.
Acting Assistant Commissioner for Training Silva Sika said the projects reflect the Government’s commitment to improving police welfare.
The projects, funded under the Government’s Special Police Assistance Program (SPAP), include two newly built duplex houses worth K2 million and a K300,000 refurbishment of single-quarters accommodation for cooks.
The projects were completed by Far East Handyman Construction over seven and three months respectively.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, ACP Sika said the new facilities marked another milestone in improving accommodation for police officers and their families.
“The opening of these facilities is a testimony to the Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of our men and women in uniform,” he said.
“For many years, our officers and their families have lived in ageing accommodation, and today we are seeing that change.”
ACP Sika said the SPAP was established to rehabilitate police housing, upgrade infrastructure and improve operational resources across the country.
He acknowledged Police Commissioner David Manning, Deputy Commissioner of Administration, former Police Ministers Bire Kimisopa and Peter Tsiamalili Jr, the SPAP Steering Committee and the National Government for supporting the projects.
He also commended Far East Handyman Construction for delivering the projects and said similar SPAP-funded developments were underway in other provinces as part of the RPNGC’s nationwide infrastructure improvement program.
ACP Sika said quality housing was essential to ensuring police officers could carry out their duties effectively, knowing their families were living in safe and secure accommodation.
He said the newly completed buildings formed part of a broader redevelopment plan for the Bomana training college, with more ageing timber houses expected to be replaced by modern brick homes in the coming years.
ACP Sika urged officers who would occupy the houses to take responsibility for maintaining them.
“These houses are a privilege, not an entitlement. We must look after them so those who come after us can also benefit,” he said.
He thanked the National Government for continuing to invest in police welfare, saying the projects demonstrated its commitment to improving the living and working conditions of police personnel throughout Papua New Guinea.