Police department reports shortlisted recruits testing positive to illicit drugs

The Royal PNG Constabulary  has reported that  six applicants for its cadet  and general police recruits have tested positive to illicit substances as it began its nation wide program starting with applicants from NCD, Central and Gulf.

Four of the applicants were shortlisted for the general recruit program while two were for the officer cadet program.

Police say four applicants tested positive to marijuana and two for methamphetamine or ice- one of them a female.

The country has recently been battling regional drug smuggling activities with methamphetamine to Australia.

The detection of drugs were revealed during a medical check for the 213 shortlisted applicants.

They were among a total of 213 applicants for the regular police recruit program who did their medical checks on Thursday and Friday last week.

Deputy Commissioner Administration Joanne Clarkson said of the 213 who did their medical checks, 26 failed, including the four who tested positive for illicit substances. 

Joanne Clarkson DCP  Administration

She said 24 were disqualified on other medical conditions such as eye test, neck nodes related to Tuberculosis, and pregnancy.

A total of 185 applicants for the police regular recruit program now advance into the physical training stage of the recruitment process.

For the cadet officer program, a total of 83 applicants were scheduled for medical checks last week. However, three did not attend. Two were tested positive for controlled drugs whilst two were disqualified on medical grounds.

A total of 76 applicants for police cadet officer now advance into the physical training aspect of the recruitment process.

“From a total of 296 candidates that were scheduled for medical checks, 261 candidates now advance to the physical training which is scheduled tomorrow (Monday April 24).

Deputy Commissioner Clarkson said there are stringent measures being put in place to ensure that academically qualified and physically and medically fit persons are selected to enter the Constabulary’s recruit and officer cadet training programs.

Ms Clarkson said, “We must get it right from the start where the applicants are shortlisted, screened, tested, and medically checked. In the screening process applicants were required to provide proof of high school certificates, birth certificates and National Identification cards, amongst other requirements. The medical tests  are being done to ensure that we recruit healthy people into the police force.

“The police top management is gravely concerned that from those checked last week, six were tested positive for illicit substances. This is a small number but just as concerning for us.

“The RPNGC is no place for substance users, and we will be vigilant and ensure they are not allowed into the Constabulary.”

A total of 13,039 applicants were shortlisted from the 48,772 applications received from across the nation for the recent police recruitment drive to fill 560 positions.

A total of 3,985 applicants were shortlisted for the National Capital District, Central and Gulf Provinces.

For the rest of the country, tentative dates have been set for the recruitment process:

· 8 May - 16 June for Hela, Southern Highlands Province, Enga, Western Highlands Province, Jiwaka and Simbu;

· 8 May – 9 June for East Sepik, West Sepik, Madang and Eastern Highlands Provinces;

· 8 May – 9 June for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, East New Britain, West New Britain, New Ireland, and Manus Provinces; and

· 8 May - June 2 for Milne Bay, Oro, North Fly and South Fly.

Dwarf banana grown at my back yard

COMMENTARY 

I share with those of you who are not familiar with this 'dwarf banana'.

It's a name my family has given to this banana species because it grows up to around a metre in height and bears fruit.

We got a sucker from a guy from the Eastern Highlands who was a security guard at a property we were leasing at Gordon's in Port Moresby.

Apart from its shorter height, it takes well less than 12 months to bear fruit.

So if you're considering agriculture as a business, this banana would certainly enable you to harvest in short time for sale.

The food itself  when ripe is very tasty I must assure you and usually more than four suckers can be removed from the base for replanting.

Imagine a sweet ripe banana out of the refrigerator during a scorching Port Moresby's humid weather.

If you want any sucker WhatsApp me on 78696599

Happy gardening, eat organic food and promote healthy living. 

Curfew imposed in West New Britain

The Provincial law and Order Committee has imposed 8pm to 5am curfew that started on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

Local Kimbe police say through a social media notice the curfew will last for  two months.

 

Liquor  shop operators and outlets are strictly  asked to comply within the meaning of these curfew times.

Kimbe Tourism hotspot Photo by Kristoffer Lam Facebook

Official road blocks will be conducted along the main highways especially the New Britain Highway in this special police operation period.

Police say that there shall be no public gatherings at any public places except for church occasions.

These are among other resolutions that the committee has resolved.

The province has descended into a crime hotspot province with the latest escape of 24 prisoners from the provincial jail.

They escaped from the Maximum Security Unit holding cells. 

CS Commissioner Stephen Pokanis has confirmed the attempt to dash for freedom and 16 were shot by prison warders and died.

Correctional Service warders can shoot escapees if they fail to stop after warnings

The West New Britain province faces another daunting law and order predicament as 24 prisoners dashed for freedom from the provincial Lakiemata jail.

Unfortunately 16 out of 24 were shot by prison warders  and died.

Correctional Service Commissioner  Stephen Pokanis has confirmed the incident with NBC Current Issues.

He said a team from the headquarters in Port Moresby will head to Kimbe to investigate without detailing the terms of reference.

PNG Correctional Service headquarters, Hohola, Port Moresby

The prisoners escaped from the Maximum Security Unit holding cells.

When queried if prison warders can shoot an escapee, Pokanis said if prisoners failed to stop after warning shots were fired they can be shot.

Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Peter Baki says police homicide squad will also do their investigations after the CS has done their internal investigations.

The police investigations will be aimed at providing information during a coronial inquest.

Superintendent Baki, a local from the province who recently transferred to the province from Milne Bay has appealed to everyone to allow due process to take its course.

The province has reported many crime incidents recently ranging from armed hold ups in the main towns to murders of Chinese nationals at logging camps.

Following the latest killings of 16 prisoners public has echoed calls for a state of emergency to be declared and law and order restored. 

Sori nogat senis: Blong wanem na olsem?

COMMENTARY

Why PNG owned business do not have cash for change while you rarely get this from foreign owned Chinese owners 

It is not healthy for your business to attract customers and retain them if " sore nogat senis " is your culture.

This may sound trivial to you that going around looking for change is OK but the customer should not wait.

I stress the customer should not wait.

In the name of business practice of trade, a customer should pay for goods or services and the seller must provide change instantly.

It is the responsibility of the seller to ensure ample change is available every time based on the quantity of goods and services you sell and potential customers out of the population in your locality. 

If you are in Port Moresby the numbers should be high and certainly you need a big float.

I have experienced it quite often at a PNG owned pokies parlor and bar that they do not have change.

This is serious. It appears to be cultural for Papua New Guinea owned businesses.

They will not have cash to pay out at pokies for K30, K40 or sometimes K50.

I have stressed to their cashiers that it was their responsibility to ensure there is change or cash for payout for as low as K10 available every time.

The funny thing though instead of running to find float, they play games on their mobile phones.

This is like getting paid for performing wrong tasks or otherwise not working performing duties.

They have to update the management to make informed decisions about how much cash should be made available as float every day.

To have no change for a customer offering K10 for water is just terrible service at their licenced bar.

Papua New Guineans should be on top of this as this ptomotes quality service and attracts domestic and international tourism.

The Chinese owned businesses in pokies or other services are seriously way better than us.

They provide big hard cash to their PNG employed staff and they guard the cash with an eagle eye.

If they are not there a PNG personnel will take their place to ensure no cash disappears into thin air.

So how much do you think SMEs should have as float as they open each day.

For a city like Port Moresby and say you're operate out from the Unity Mall, I think your float every morning should be around K500.

They should be in 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 notes. 

It's not your spending money there's no loss in it, it's still part of your reserves.

For pokies parlours I suggest the National Gaming Control Board comes though on licence conditions that they should have sufficient float each day for customers rather than having customers to wait.

Let's make PNG great by offering the best customer service to all locals and visitors.

Quality burgers in Port Moresby

My favourite of late is the cheese burger costing K20 at Meat Haus burger shops in Port Moresby.

They have variety of burgers with prices ranging from K20 to K30.

The Australian burger which is quite  thick with fillings and huge patties is selling at K25.

If you are after quality, a very presentable and hygienic place to have a bite inside an air conditioned place, choose their location at downtown Port Moresby opposite the Crown Hotel. 

Their car parking space is just left of the location.

The Meat Haus burger place is HACCAP certified which basically means their promotion and compliance to health and hygiene in producing food is internationally accepted as far as health standards are concerned.

I must say the young lash who served me was very professional as well.

We should make that contagious in PNG and across other retail and service businesses.

Check Meat Haus burger places at Waigani, formerly ANZ compound or downtown opposite Crown Hotel.

Power Cocktail food supplement by FitLine

You may have heard about this food supplement product already. 

There are other products as well and they are produced in Germany by a firm called PM International.

As far as I understand they are food supplements aimed at improving or supporting our immune systems.

When our immunity drops as we age, these food supplements restores our vitamins and minerals to live healthy and fight against diseases.

Talk to your physician or doctor if you have any medical query about the supplements.

• The Power Cocktail comprises
• 
  
• Energy. Rich in vitamin B6, which contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
• Immune system. Rich in vitamin C, which contributes to the maintenance of the normal function of the immune system.
• Feel good. Specially developed concentrate with fibers and live lactic acid bacteria.

I had a power cocktail twice in a week with three spoons of activice, to boost energy and I felt good.

You pour the power in sachet into a cup and add 450 mls of water, stir and it's well diluted then drink it on empty stomach.

So best is when you wake it in the morning before having breakfast.

I felt energised and muscles relaxed with improved vision.

I met a 64 year old Tolai woman who looked stunningly young and said son I have thos once a week.

She was glowing, looking younger at her age.

I encourage you to have this like the beautiful and  stunning Tolai grand ma.

She is a shop keeper at one of the stalls at Unity Mall.

Visit their website at www.fitline.com and read about their products and testimonials.