KUNYANBAN: SUCCESS OF LAE POLICING TO CONTINUE

Media Release


The new Acting Lae Metropolitan Commander says the success of policing in Lae City under the command of former Met Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr will still carry on.

Acting Lae Metropolitan Commander Chief Inspector Chris Kunyanban taking over from Wagambie Jr who is now Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police-Central and NCD, commends the success story of policing in Lae under the reign of his predecessor.

“Anthony Wagambie Jr has done a tremendous job in Lae in terms of policing and people have felt what he has done in Lae.

My acting position is purposely to maintain consistency in what Wagambie Jr has done,” Acting Met Supt Kunyanban said.

Met Supt Kunyanban attributed the success of policing in Lae under Wagambie Jr to three main strategies which has produced positive results and it’s a working progress as he takes over.

He said the three strategies include minimal response time to incidences and calls from the public through the introduction of the Sector Response Unit (SRU).

“Now the response time is very quick with the introduction of the SRU unlike in the past,” Mr Kunyanban said.

He said the second strategy put in place by Wagambie Jr is the toll free service which is working very well and a lot of people are calling in with the turn-around time complemented by the swift response of the SRU.

“The toll free number is working very well,” he added.

Met Supt Kunyanban said the third approach is the foot beat patrol in the main centres of Lae city including Eriku, Top Town and main market giving confidence to the general public and commuters.

The new Lae Met Supt said going forward he will maintain consistency to the legacy set by Wagambie Jr and to improve where needed as well to improve from where the former Met Supt has left.

Member for Lae John Rosso said the cooperation of Met Supt Wagambie with Lae district has changed the bad image of Lae city.

MP Rosso said through sheer hard work, private partnership and good support from the Lae district office has seen nearly K4 million pumped into law and order in Lae city.

He said Mr Wagambie Jr has done the right thing contributing immensely to Lae city with the support of all of his officers.

“I’d like to commend them (police) having done an excellent job in Lae,” Mr Rosso added.

He said the incoming acting Met Supt is no stranger to Lae having come up the ranks here in Lae and he will be able to carry on the good work done by his predecessor.

“We will make sure that Lae becomes the safest city in PNG and I share this dream with all the police officers in Lae,” MP Rosso said.

Met Supt Kunyanban said taking over during the peak period of Lae city recently with the 44th Independence celebrations, Lae City stands tall experiencing a hive of activities.

He said his immediate tasks is to see these events enjoyed by the people of Lae City runs smoothly as well visitors to the city are trouble free.

“We give credit to the Lae communities to have taken responsibility in celebrating the country’s 44th independence resulting in a quiet policing.

MP Rosso said previously Lae was notorious for Independence celebration but this has changed with a positive wind of change in the recent years and it boils down to the attitudes of the communities.

“Now we have the 58th Morobe Agricultural show coming up from the 12-13th October.

Which in one time will have a population of about 60,000 to 70,000 people coming in different times to the show,” Mr Kunyanban said.

He said police are prepared and in consultation with the show organisers to provide security to the show.

Met Supt Kunyanban urged the public to give police the support to make the show enjoyable and peaceful for all mothers, children, fathers and everyone and most of all, to make communities in Lae city a better place for all to live.