PORT MORESBY – The preparedness, expertise and capabilities of the Papua New Guinea joint security taskforce has shown that security personnel are positioned to handle any situation during the APEC Leaders’ Summit.
A demonstration last Friday by the PNGDF long range reconnaissance team showed the hard work of a four-year training under the watchful eyes of experts from Australia and New Zealand.
A scene of a hijacked bus was played out for the Minister for APEC Justin Tkatchenko, Police Commissioner Gari Baki, PNG Defence Force and police officials and media in Eight-Mile at the PNGDF air transport squadron base.
Using what they had learnt the PNGDF team members were able to move in quickly and defuse a potentially deadly situation impressing not only the media but the minister as well.
Speaking after the demonstration, Tkatchenko said that the preparedness of the security for the meetings has been a four-year intense training, dedication and hard work.
“What you have witnessed is a clear example of the hard work and dedication of the Defence Force especially here today that has been training over the last four years with Australia and New Zealand and their own work within the Defence Force.”
This is about getting it right getting security right for the leaders and Leaders’ Summit in November, Tkatchenko said.
Baki said that the demonstration showed the preparedness of all security elements for APEC.
“Security is on par as meetings continue in the lead-up to the APEC Leaders’ Summit in November and while the level of meetings has risen, security continues to be heightened as different meetings progress.”
A demonstration on the capabilities, preparedness and expertise of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force also showed that the police would depend on military support for a secure meeting, Baki said.
