The National Capital District Commission in response to the rising crime
The National Capital District Commission in response to the rising crime rates and serious safety concerns in Port Moresby, introduces the City Warden Initiative aimed at enhancing public safety to critical transit points throughout the city.
As the city government closest to the people, NCDC stands on the front lines, and is first responder to the prevalent security crisis.
NCDC will assist Police and RTA with manpower and logistics to regain control of public spaces in the city and restore respect for the rule of law.
Provide visible presence at bus stops where residents, workers, visitors, students especially, women and girls are vulnerable to theft, harassment, and other security issues.
The Initiative imposes measures to known hotspots in partnership with police, government agencies and local communities. Police manpower is underwhelmed with less than 900+ police personnel in NCD managing over a million people.
Safety and security are our priorities, and with collective efforts from everyone, we can make this city a better place—a place that is safe and conducive for everyone to move freely at any time of the day as they wish.
Through this partnership, trained youth will be deployed to take over public spaces especially bus stops and identified hotspots in the city.
The first phase of this initiative will involve the deployment of 150 trained youth at the Boroko and Gordons precincts.
These youth have undergone two weeks of induction and three days of specialized skills training conducted by professional instructors, including former and current servicemen from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.
The training covered basic life skills, health and hygiene, code of ethics, appropriate dressing and behavior, crisis management, self-respect, and adherence to a chain of command.
Through this training, Defence instructors have equipped them with the skills to perform their duties efficiently and confidently, knowing what to do and what not to do as wardens. This will help eliminate crime in the city.
The standard operating procedures for the NCD wardens include:
• Making their presence known in public spaces,
• Monitoring public movement,
• Discouraging illegal vending,
• Providing security for women, girls, and other vulnerable individuals,
• Addressing unethical behavior in public spaces.
These wardens will serve as the eyes and ears of frontline police officers, working closely with them to maintain peace, safety, and security in public areas.
NCDC will provide the necessary support to Police, RTA and Community Leaders, including logistics such as vehicles and fuel, ensuring that perpetrators of unethical behavior have no room to operate in public spaces.
We will not tolerate unethical behavior in the city. Perpetrators will be hunted down, arrested, charged, and we will ensure they do not live in this city.
More youth will be deployed to other precincts in the city under this collaboration and I call on residents to actively participate in making Port Moresby a better and safer city for everyone.
The problems are complex and one program cannot provide all answers at once, but a start is necessary and I appeal to our citizens and stakeholders to come together and make our city more peaceful and liveable.
The City Warden Initiative is a start and the first phase of our overall plan. After 3 months of deployment and continuous training, some of our wardens will be selected and recommended to be regular or reserve police officers. Others will become NCDC Public Saftey officers and others will be selected in our NCDC Programs like Labour Mobility, ACDP and UYEP.
The warden program is a platform for these youths to change their lives and grow as individuals under existing programs.
This is our city and our country, so each of us must actively look after our home. Allow our women and girls to walk freely and live their lives as they wish to. Let us all rise for our City Port Moresby.
We will not lose our city to thugs and criminals. That will never happen and today we send out a strong message that we will not be bulklied and be ruled by fear. Port Moresby is the capital of PNG and the beacon of hope for our country.
In Port Moresby lies the seat of power of our government.
This is the face and head of our nation. As a coalition partner to the Marape Rosso Government I am doing my part for our Government and country.
I call on support from all Members of Parliament especially our Prime Minister and Ministers. We all live here – all our people live in Port Moresby. Lets work together and make Port Moresby and PNG safe again. It starts today.
Thank you.