Commonwealth starts work in PNG
London (CNIS/PINA Nius Online) – A Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group is in Papua New Guinea to undertake a review of that country’s defense and security needs.
The group has met with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Police, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the National Security Advisory Committee. It will also meet with various senior officials in and around the capital, Port Moresby, before visiting military bases and facilities in other parts of the country.
Set up by Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon in response to a request from Sir Mekere Morauta, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Group consists of:
Mr. Gerald Hensley (Convenor), of New Zealand; Mr. Charles Lepani, of Papua New Guinea: Major-General Michael Jeffery, of Australia; and Mr. Hugh Small, of Jamaica. The group is supported by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by Mr. Winston Cox, deputy secretary-general in charge of development co-operation.
“We are glad to be of assistance to Papua New Guinea in this important task. We hope to complete the review by the end of the year, in accordance with the time-frame set by Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta,” said Mr. Cox.
The review is expected to make recommendations on the future roles and tasks, structure, size, capabilities and financial requirements of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force. This will be within the framework of an appropriate national security strategy for the country.
