PNG Leaders Weigh Movement Controls to Address Law and Order in Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea leaders in the National Capital District are considering options to regulate the movement of people into and within Port Moresby as concerns over law and order continue to mount in the city. The discussions come as authorities link increasing social challenges to rapid internal migration into the nation’s capital.

 PNG Leaders Weigh Movement Controls to Address Law and Order in Port Moresby [File Photo]

NCD Members of Parliament and Governor Powes Parkop have already held preliminary talks on possible measures, with Prime Minister James Marape indicating his support for any practical approach they agree upon to manage the situation.

Member for Moresby North West Lohia Boe Samuel said leaders were actively planning solutions to tackle the growing issues, including calls for stronger regulation of movement. He stressed that the proposal was raised in light of ongoing crime concerns highlighted by Member for Moresby South Justin Tkatchenko.

“As leaders we sit down and we plan what can we do to address these issues. One of the things I personally requested to the Prime Minister and our NCD Governor is to combat the free movement of people which is resulting in the law-and-order issues that we have. Like Member for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko has mentioned, people are getting raped, getting killed and murdered and we need to look at regulations or processes to combat that movement and that is something we need to do,” Samuel said.

He clarified that the proposal was not intended to restrict constitutional freedoms but rather to introduce measures similar to COVID-19 period controls to better manage movement within the city.

Samuel also called on leaders in other provinces to take responsibility in managing internal migration, noting that unchecked movement has contributed to the pressures currently faced in Port Moresby.

Governor Parkop acknowledged that settlement growth remains a nationwide concern and confirmed that the Prime Minister has pledged support for mechanisms aimed at managing population movement into the capital.

“Settlement is a national challenge, not just in Port Moresby, but everywhere. We're focusing on that and Prime Minister has pledged his support in whatever plans we have. So, it's a discussion that member of North West raised.”

He further revealed that former Police Minister and now Works and Highways Minister Peter Tsiamalili had suggested the possibility of introducing identification systems for residents and visitors as a form of regulation rather than restriction.

Parkop said such approaches have been used in other parts of the world and are intended to promote responsible use of constitutional freedoms while maintaining public order. “Former Police Minister, now Minister for Works and Highways, Honourable Peter Tsiamalili has flagged the idea of particular ID for residents in the city and visitors. So that's another mechanism. It’s been tried in other parts of the world as well, it's for control, not to stop people moving here and there, because it's a fundamental right in our constitution for people to have freedom. But we all know that some sectors of our community, they abuse this freedom of movement - freedom in the Constitution comes with responsibility,” said Parkop.