NATIONAL CAPITAL DISTRICT Launches its Urban Safety Strategy
The National Capital District Commissions objective is securing a Safe, Society for All in the National Capital District.
In pursuing this, the NCDC coordinate and support the implementation of strategies arrived at in collaboration at agencies level and operation levels by involving all the stakeholders, including the immediate communities in Port Moresby so that we could all create a safe and secure environment for Economic and Social growth and prosperity for all the people in NCD and PNG generally.
The equal part of this Goal is to adopt an investment friendly environment approach by removing impediments to increase foreign investments and at the same time promote maximum domestic production for all types of industries (formal and the informal sector). Ultimately, NCDC will then be in a position to meaningfully support the National Government's export driven and poverty alleviation policies embedded in the Government's Medium Term Development Strategies (MTDS).
BACKGROUND
The Strategies have been undertaken by the National Capital District Commission in collaboration with the formal and informal agencies interested in the worsening Law and Order situation which is threatening the safety and security of all. It is been acknowledged that Law and order issues are cross cutting issues and therefore it requires everybody's input. The strategy is therefore the initiative of all sectors giving support to the NCDC to fill this gap.
SECTOR CORDINATION
The foundation and the strength for these strategies are to work together on the sector priorities through better coordination of activities. The NCDC will work towards ensuring that workable, practical and vibrant partnerships are established. A coordination and reporting mechanism will have to be established whereby the NCDC Board is engaged for support and decision making and at the same time maintain links with all partners, Law and Justice Sector Working Group, National Coordination Mechanism (NCM).
NCD URBAN SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The NCDC will now have a working committee to be called the NCD URBAN SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The Committee will be chaired by the City Manager.
Membership of the Committee will comprise of:
1. Representative from the Police
2. Representative from the Department of National Planning
3. Representative from the Department of Attorney General
4. Representative from the National and Supreme Courts
5. Representative from the Magisterial services
6. representative from the NCD Youth Council
7. Representative from the NCD Women's Council
8. Representative from the Ministerial Committee on Urbanisation
9. Representative from the Churches
10. Representative from the Business Sector
11. Representative from the Media Council
12. Representative from Motu Koita Council
13. Representative from the other three LLGs
14. representative from the Narcotics Bureau
15. Representative from the Correctional Services
16. Representative from the Donor agencies
17. Representative from the Consultative implementation Committee (CIMC)
The role of this committee will be primarily to support and coordinate the implementation of the sectoral and cross sectoral activities at agency and operational levels. Furthermore, the Committee will also undertake reviews and audit the implementation. The audit and reviews will enable NCDC to provide regular report to the appropriate authorities, including annual reports to the National Parliament.
The NCDC Executive Management will oversee the implementation of the programs and report/advise the NCDC Board on the work of the committee and report back to the Committee any advice or instructions from the NCDC Board
An administration support unit will be set up within the Office of the Deputy City Manager Community Services who will provide the secretariat support for the committee.
LAW AND JUSTICE SECTOR
A key strategy for the law and Justice Sector is to work together on sector priorities through better coordination of activities. They have established what is known as the NATIONAL CORDINATION MECHENISM (NCM). The NCM reports to the National Executive Council and is supported by an advisory team that is called the Law and Justice Sector working group.
The NCM has identified ten sector priorities. The number one priority of these ten priorities is:-
1. " Improve security and safety in urban areas, with Port Moresby to be the first to be addressed. A comprehensive approach to reducing crime that includes more effective agency responses and processing, building better relations with the community and improving cooperation to support crime prevention."
NCDC AND THE LAW AND ORDER SECTOR
There have been many law and order programs, projects and activities undertaken in Port Moresby, by both the formal and informal agencies. However there is little or no impact on the law and order situation. The consultations carried out by the NCDC with its stakeholders including the general community shows that this failure or lack of achievement could be attributed to a lack of leadership, governance, institutional ownership and more importantly, meaningfully engaging the communities and stakeholders as partners and agents for change.
It has also been identified that there are real and complex issues involved in decisions relating to whom and how programs are to be implemented. Institutional competition and lack of effective implementation and delivery of services by Government agencies and instrumentalities continue to pose a serious risk to any worthy initiative in addressing the Law and Order challenges.
There is an urgent need for all stakeholders to develop collaborative strategies that can bring quick wins and restore public confidence in the sector and the way businesses of the law and justice sector agencies and the instrumentalities of the government are managed presently. The objective of this strategy is for NCDC to work with all players to identify tangible activities which would have immediate impact and must bring significant benefit to the people of the National Capital District.
NCD URBAN SAFETY GOAL
The Goal is to build workable, vibrant partnerships to facilitate for behavioural change in the people, the sector agencies and all instrumentalities in the provision of goods and services and to respect the rule of law.
MISSION STATEMENT
"SECURING A SAFER COMMUNITY IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL DISTRICT IN PARTNERSHIP"
THE STRATEGIES FOR 2006-2010
The strategies were developed from identifying the current most pressing issues .They are
1. Build a professional police service in NCD that meets legitimate community expectations.
2. Strengthen Community based non violent dispute resolution.
3. Restoring Community Governance at the Community level.
4. Developing a friendly and safer transport and road management.
5. Support and encourage diversion and Restorative justice.
6. Strengthen and support Development and Management of Port Moresby Development Plan and Local Area Plans and efficient regulatory control in licensing, Building and development approvals.
7. Efficient regulatory Control in Licensing, Building approvals/Construction
management and Development Control approvals/ Management.
8. Support Informal Sector Development and Control.
9. Upgrading of recreational facilities and protection of parks and reserves.
10. Public awareness and education program
11. Capacity Building Program for all government agencies to be able to coordinate and build effective partnerships
It is envisaged that NCDC will improve its governance and position significantly as required by the Constitution to progressively improve services to the people and in fulfilling its primary function of ensuring the welfare of the people of NCD.
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PETER LOKO
City Manager
For more information, Please contact the NCDC Public Relations Office on: 325-3090 or email.steve.simms@ljsp.acil.com.pg or Grace Maribu on gmaribu_ncdc@daltron.com.pg.
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