"TARAKA" TO LAWLESSNESS - Fighting Crime in Wild West

If you are new in town and ask around about places to visit in Lae City, there is a suburb which is a no go zone for many visitors who are here for the first time.

West Taraka is a place synonymous with crime and all it's greatest, action packed wild west lifestyle where robberies and guns have become a daily action. People from all walks of life who have taken up permanent residency in West Taraka would say it's a normal activity in the last three decades.

You've never missed a week where stolen motor vehicles will be tailed by cops towards Talis Kona, onto Bumbu bridge and towards upper West.

Home-brew and marijuana consumption have become common sights everywhere you go and drunken brawls can even lead to an all out ethnic clash. People being injured, getting killed and even houses burnt have all embedded into West Taraka's daily occurrences.

Late 2016, after several police raids on criminal hideouts and the shooting of a high profile criminal in West Taraka,the community police station was burnt to ashes. It was an indication that the law and order situation was getting out of hand and even the police could not stop them.

Lae police boss Anthony Wagambie Jnr assigned then Tent Siti Police Station Commander Jack Sakeli to oversee police operations in West Taraka. Sgt Sakaeli brings with him a wealth of experiences solving ethnic clashes and clamping down on criminal elements in the Tent Siti and Bumayong areas.

During the Christmas and New Year operations I caught up with Sgt Sakaeli who led a group of reserve police officers and community leaders on a patrol around the community. They were walking around with softball bats and megaphones making awareness to young people to refrain from consuming home-brew and causing public disturbances. This seemingly small act of responsibility initiated by the community leaders themselves helped a lot with a successful and trouble free festive period.

"People are beginning to realize and uphold law and order. They (the people) only need someone to walk their walk, talk their talk and to simply live with them and share their problems. And we (police) have found the formula to stop all forms of lawlessness in West Taraka," added Sgt Jack Sakaeli.

I also spoke to former ward Councillor Peter Wagu about his view on law and order problems in the community.

" Youths in West Taraka turn to crime because there is no political leadership to address their unemployment problems and the provision of basic services. Activities like sports are short term measures taken to keep youths busy and away from engaging in illegal activities."

A sporting tournament was held during the festive period and that helped to keep young people occupied throughout the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The West Taraka Police station commander has also appealed to the government to rebuild it's police station and show some form of authority in the community. By then policing work would be strengthen and there will be change in West Taraka.

Taraka in the Kote language means "Pinis" or "End". It would be better to see West Taraka taking the lead in setting the pace for change to Papua New Guinea. The end shall be the begining for a better and brighter PNG.