By GINNAH MINI
GOROKA MP Hon. Aiye Tambua has questioned Prime Minister James Marape over the lack of vehicles for highway patrol police officers tasked with policing the Highlands Highway.
During question time in Parliament today, Mr. Tambua raised concerns that the shortage of patrol vehicles had contributed to frequent roadblocks and disruptions along the highway, particularly in Eastern Highlands and Simbu provinces.
He asked when the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) would provide vehicles to the Highway Patrol Department to strengthen patrol operations along the affected sections of the Highlands Highway.
Mr. Tambua acknowledged the 60 vehicles donations to RPNGC by Japanese Embassy and said that the vehicles must be allocated to the needed places.
“We are now approaching a period of festive season where a lot of our people and our students will be traveling along the Highlands Highway. But we have an issue with the Highlands Highway- starting from Kassam Pass to Goroka, the road is not safe for our travelers,”Mr. Tambua said.
He noted that Kassam Pass is a hotspot for robbery where travelers often encounter hold ups.
He added that the reason for the constant hold up’s was because of lack of vehicles for police officers to patrol the hotspot areas.
“Our police patrolling units don’t have vehicles so it’s very hard for them to patrol sections of the highways to create a safe environment for the public to travel,” Mr. Tambua said.
Answering the questions on behalf of the Police Minister Sir John Pundari, the Prime Minister said that the National Government has invested substantially in the police resourcing.
Mr. Marape acknowledged that the Highlands Highway and other major highways in the country must be patrolled.
“I will take it upon myself to make sure that highway patrols are stocked up, resourced and supported to make sure that highways are free from roadblocks and all there criminal activities that goes on within Highlands Highways,” Mr. Marape said.
Prime Minister Marape said that 60 percent of the economy and population is supported by Highlands Highway and has advised citizens living along the highway to stop the habit of vandalism, hold ups and criminal activities.