Launch of the Yumi Lukautim Mosbi Projek
Friday 21 July 2006; Port Moresby, PNG
AusAID Minister Counsellor, Margaret Thomas
AusAID is pleased to be supporting the Papua New Guinea Government in partnership with local communities and other stakeholders to address crime and safety in Port Moresby through the Yumi Lukautim Mosbi Projek.
Urban safety in Port Moresby has been seen as a critical issue by the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) and the heads of the law and justice sector for some time now. As the largest city and capital of PNG, Port Moresby is not only the international face of PNG, but also is home to a large and diverse range of communities living together.
There are of course many challenges in helping to make Port Moresby a safe place to live. However, with cooperation, enthusiasm and energy, NCDC, the law and justice agencies and the many residents of Port Moresby, can work together to bring about positive change.
As the municipal authority responsible for urban safety in Port Moresby, the National Capital District Commission (NCDC), agreed in 2004 to take the lead on an urban safety initiative called Yumi Lukautim Mosbi Projek (YLM). In recognition of the fact that urban safety is the responsibility of a range of agencies and communities, the initiative takes a multi-agency approach to improving service delivery and seeks to introduce community-led approaches to identifying and addressing law and order issues.
Over the past two years, the YLM Project has been piloted in four geographical locations within and around Port Moresby. During 2005, with AusAID support, NCDC was able to sponsor 25 community projects ranging from cultural and sporting events for youth, social service programs focused on women and youth, community based work order programs, and access to employment opportunities through NCDC public works programs.
Last year, the success of one these youth rehabilitation and crime prevention activities also attracted the attention of one of Australia’s most renowned entertainers, Jimmy Barnes. We were very pleased to support Mr Barnes’ visit to Baruni Village in Port Moresby where he offered his encouragement to the community and received first hand accounts from young people about their experiences relating to crime, substance abuse and unemployment. He also heard about the difference that the YLM crime prevention activities had made in terms of personal development and building a safer community.
Although the YLM Project is still in its initial stages, the integrated, multi-agency approach is already having a positive impact on minimising duplication at the service delivery level. There is also anecdotal evidence that crime has reduced in at least one of the pilot areas and the Project has directly led to a significant increase in NCDC funding for Port Moresby community and social service programs in 2006 compared to 2005.
The Australian aid program is providing funding to NCDC as well as technical assistance through an adviser who works closely with NCDC to facilitate its dialogue with community and government stakeholders. This assistance is provided under the PNG-Australia Law and Justice Sector Program, which aims to support the Government of PNG to achieve its vision of a Just, Safe and Secure Society for All. One of the key goals in achieving this vision is to improve policing, safety and crime prevention. The YLM Project makes an important contribution towards achieving that goal.
We look forward to continuing our support for this excellent initiative and encourage NCDC and YLM partners to share their experiences, successes and lessons with other cities and towns across PNG.
The Australian Government, through AusAID, would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of NCDC and the Urban Safety Action Committee (USAC), together with the law and justice agencies and communities across Port Moresby in making Yumi Lukautim Port Mosbi such a success so far. We wish you further success and progress in the future.
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