Police receive K50,000 for games

Caption: (L) Sohe MP, Delilah Gore, Justin Tkatchenko, Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga, and Chief Supt Joanne Clarkson pose with the dummy cheque.




By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, April 23, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)





THE Papua New Guinea Royal Constabulary (RPNGC) team, currently participating in the Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games in Melbourne, Australia, were the proud recipient of K50,000 from the National Government through the Ministry of Sports, yesterday.

Presenting the cheque to Commissioner for Police Tom Kulunga and team organizer, Chief Superintendent Joanne Clarkson- Minister for Sports and Pacific Games, Justin Tkatchenko said that his ministry was pleased to assist the constabulary through the Sports Enhancement Program.

“It’s all about getting funding down to the districts and the provinces, the competition, the individuals, and the sporting codes to help them enhance their sporting abilities,” he said.

“When the police came to us for assistance, they ticked all the boxes because their participation will enhance relationships between themselves and their counterparts from the region.”

“This is a great initiative through sport in getting our police together.”

With the team 21 female officers and one male- team organizer Chief Supt Clarkson said she was optimistic of their performance as competitions kicked of as of Monday, adding that PNG’s participation along with Vanuatu as the only South Pacific countries apart from New Zealand and the host country.

She pointed out that the last participation of the RPNGC in the games were in 2008- something she along with her colleagues south to change in 2014.

“RPNGC in the past had participated a lot in the games, and we stopped participating since 2008,” she said.

“When we heard about it being held this year, a group of policewomen decided to participate and so we got together and started train for our target sports, which are netball and basketball and we went out to look for support.”

“That led me to write to the minister for sports and the pacific game to ask for support.”

The Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games is a bi-annual, week long event with 40 sports, with participants from New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

The week-long event has competitions with participants from the police, fire, ambulance and other services, in more than 40 sports.