Graduation for Bougainville Pre-Recruit Education Program

Forty young Bougainvillean men and women have graduated from a first-of-its-kind intensive course that boosts students’ education to enable them to apply for recruit training at Bomana Police College.

The graduation was held on Friday 24 July at the BPS Training Centre in Hutjena near Buka Island.

The Pre-Recruit Education Program, funded by the Australian Government, was designed to give young Bougainvilleans the education needed to complete police recruit training join the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

In his keynote speech, Honourable Chief, Dr John Momis, President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, thanked the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Royal PNG Constabulary for working in partnership with the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Australian Government in supporting this program to increase police capacity.

“We need more police who are better trained and equipped and able to assist when our people need them. We need effective courts and an effect public prosecutor and solicitor, these services are vital if the lives of Bougainvilleans are to be safe and secure. They are also essential if we are to attract investors,” Dr Momis said.

Speaking on behalf of the Police Commissioner, RPNGC Assistant Police Commissioner Francis Tokura said the Pre-Recruit Education Program’s successful recruitment and training of young Bougainvilleans will increase the future strength of the police service in Bougainville.

“Those applicants who are successful in completing the six months recruit training at Bomana Police Training College will be posted back to serve in Bougainville,” Mr Tokura said.

“In the long run, the Pre-Recruit Education Program will provide the future officers of the Bougainville Police Service.”

In congratulating the graduates, Minister Counsellor Rod Hilton of the Australian High Commission said: “This program represents a partnership – a partnership of friends working together to achieve a common objective, which is peace and stability in Bougainville, and a better law and justice sector here in Bougainville.

“The graduates here are on a very important journey. Law and justice is critical to development. A safe and secure community is one that will realise its potential and achieve its goals and aspirations.

“We are proud to have contributed to those goals by our support to this impressive program.”

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr Paul Kamuai of Bougainville Police Service said the Pre-Recruit Education Program was the aspiration of the people of Bougainville made possible through their leaders. He said the partnership between governments, the Police and communities will move Bougainville towards growth with a stable law and order.

The 16 women and 24 men began the Pre-Recruit Education Program in February, and covered a range of subjects in their studies including English, mathematics, computing, law, mediation and human rights.

The Australian Government invested PGK2 million in the Pre-Recruit Education Program, as part of its commitment to strengthening law and justice in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.