The first batch of the police recruits who had been selected and qualified for the regular training program at the Bomana Centre of Excellence (formerly Bomana Police College) started flying into the National Capital District today.
Police Commissioner David Manning said the recruits that have flown in today were from Sandaun, Milne Bay, Goroka, Hela and East Sepik provinces.
Thirteen recruits flew in from Vanimo and Milne Bay and were escorted from the airport to Bomana Centre of Excellence where they were allocated rooms. Six recruits, which included a female and five males flew in from Vanimo while the other seven flew in from Alotau. The Milne Bay recruits include one female and six males.
Joyce Kambei, the only female recruit from Milne Bay, said she is happy that she is amongst the males who had made it through to the college. She said she is ready to do the training and become a policewoman.
Commissioner Manning said he is happy with the progress of the recruitment thus far, and expects more recruits to arrive at the college and begin their training.
“We have a huge gap in the ratio of policemen to people and expect to gradually close the gap with a consistent recruitment program,” Mr Manning said.
Mr Manning said the RPNGC was only able to begin recruitment again because of the strong commitment of the Marape-Rosso Government to law and order which has been translated into resource and funding allocation.