Crime being committed along the Highlands Highway on a constant basis is alarming and prompting calls for the authorities to do something decisive to fully address this nonsense of killings and attacks along a national highway that is the lifeline for many people living in the highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Just recently, there was a shooting along the Eastern Highlands province portion of the highway where a transporter was shot and killed by an armed criminal. This matter was raised in parliament this morning during question time when Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa shot the question at the Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Junior on what he is doing to address this serious matter.

Responding to the good governor’s question, the good Police Minister said something is being done about it, stating that the implementation of a police post after every 60km will be the way forward.

Minister Tsiamalili explained that this is the standard on a national way, where after every 60km, there will be a police highway patrol base. This is to ensure that police will respond swiftly to any emergency situation within their area of operation.

He added that every province along the Highlands Highway must work with the national government and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNC) to have such police bases set up along their portion of the national highway.

Nevertheless, Minister Tsiamalili said this is now happening.

“This is capture in the Police Partnership Assistance,” said the minister, further stating that this standard of 60km police base is captured under this partnership assistance.

Governor Rapa wants urgency put into this because the Highlands Highway is vital to service and development and it must be a safe place for people to move around freely to do business or just leisure.