Okapa MP urges police minister to fast track Police Barracks Project
Okapa MP Saki Soloma is calling on Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr. and Police Commissioner David Manning to speed up work on building four new police barracks in the Okapa District.
The facilities are part of the government’s Kina to Kina Program, which aims to strengthen law and order across the country.
Speaking during a community awareness event at Onamuga Field in Kamano LLG, Kainantu District, Mr. Soloma said the Okapa District Development Authority [DDA] has already allocated K3 million for the project.
"The K3 million is already in the Police Trust Account, and we are waiting for further funding from the Police Department to fund this project under the kina to kina program", he said.
The MP thanked the Marape-Rosso Government for launching the Kina to Kina Program, saying it plays an important role in tackling lawlessness in rural areas.
Mr. Soloma highlighted the serious law and order issues facing the district, including frequent armed holdups along the roads connecting Okapa to Kainantu and Goroka.
"Law and order play an important role in holding the fabric of the society together, and this is one of the priorities of the Okapa DDA", he said.
He added that Okapa is a large district with a growing population, making it urgent to improve police infrastructure.
The four new police facilities will be built in the following locations:
- Pitanga and Ivingoi in East Okapa LLG
- Tarabo and Henagaru in West Okapa LLG
The project is part of the Okapa DDA’s priority plan to support community safety and improve justice services across the district.