Police Minister Sir John Pundari has called on trucking companies and major road contractors to partner with his Police Department in restoring and establishing highway patrols along the new trans-national highways built around the country.
Responding to a question asked by PNG SUN about the security concerns raised by the public, Sir John warned that lawlessness along the new and existing national roads is threatening the country’s economic lifelines. Companies, he said, can fund the patrol posts under their corporate obligations so tax cuts are considered to compensate their costs; this is not double taxation.
Sir John, a businessman himself, said highways were critical to trade, movement of goods and national development, yet insecurity had eroded confidence among transport operators and the travelling public.
“Our highways are the economic lifeline of this country,” he said.
“In recent times, trucking companies have lost goods meant for markets and inland communities. That confidence must be restored.”
He said the revival of highway patrols-once a visible and effective policing presence-was essential to improving safety and rapid response to crime along major roads.
“In my younger days, every few minutes you would see a highway patrol pass by,” Sir John told PNG SUN.
“There were police stations along highways, and when trouble happened, police responded immediately. That brought confidence and peace to travelers.”
The police minister said government alone could not shoulder the cost of manpower, vehicles and infrastructure, and urged contractors and logistics companies to contribute under their corporate social responsibility obligations.
“What is K50,000 or K100,000 to a contractor?” he asked. “Every 50 kilometers of road, you help establish a small police post. That is pulling together in the national interest.”
Sir John said security infrastructure should be built alongside new highways, noting that donor-funded road projects already included such components, which must now be fully implemented.
“You don’t build roads for nothing,” he said. “You build roads so business can grow. But without security, that growth is threatened.”
Police Commissioner David Manning said he had started dialogues with the Departments of Works and Highways, so highways patrol posts are constructed by contractors along the new highway corridors.
He said the police would work closely with contractors, transport operators and the Department of Works to progressively re-establish highway patrol’s nationwide.