Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has commended members of Hela-based Mobile Squad (MS) 9 for their service and professionalism, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to protecting police officers and strengthening law and order across Papua New Guinea.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a farewell dinner on Wednesday (Feb 25, 2026) for MS 9 officers following their graduation from a specialist training programme at the McGregor Mobile Squad Base in Port Moresby. The officers completed the training on Monday and are preparing to return to Hela Province for operational deployment.

Provincial Leadership in Police Training

Prime Minister Marape praised the Hela Provincial Government for using its own provincial budget to fund specialist training for its Mobile Squad unit, describing the initiative as a significant and rare example of provincial leadership in policing.

“Hela is among the first provincial governments to step forward and directly fund specialist training for its Mobile Squad officers,” Prime Minister Marape said. “This is an important investment in law and order, and it strengthens both the province and the nation.”

The Mobile Squad is an elite unit of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, deployed in high-risk operations, civil unrest and major law and order incidents.

Policing as a Higher Calling

Prime Minister Marape reminded officers that policing is not simply a job, but a calling rooted in the country’s long history of maintaining order, even before Independence.

“The intention to bring order to this land existed long before we became a nation,” he said. “You belong to a higher calling. Without order, there can be no country.”

He urged officers to reflect on the legacy they will leave behind.

“One day, each of us will no longer be in our current roles. The question is whether we leave behind a better police force and a safer country than the one we inherited.”

Reflecting on Duty and Sacrifice

The farewell dinner coincided with the eve of the fifth anniversary of the passing of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, prompting the Prime Minister to reflect on leadership, sacrifice and faithfulness to duty.

“I was privileged to be among the last people Sir Michael spoke to,” Prime Minister Marape said. “Even at 86, fully aware of his condition, he remained conscious of his duty to country. Although he came from Murik Lakes, his loyalty was never to one place — it was to the entire nation.”

He reminded officers that the freedoms enjoyed today were earned through struggle and sacrifice, and that maintaining law and order is central to preserving those freedoms.

Government Protection for Police Officers

Prime Minister Marape reaffirmed that the Government will stand firmly behind police officers who face danger in the line of duty.

He confirmed that Cabinet has approved legal and policy reforms to strengthen protections for police ahead of major law and order operations later this year.

“If your life is under threat, you have the right to defend yourself,” he said. “The State will protect you. Police officers must never feel abandoned when doing their duty.”

He also assured officers that families of police killed in the line of duty will receive formal support, including compensation, pensions and education assistance for dependants.

“No police officer should serve with fear about what will happen to their family if the worst occurs,” Prime Minister Marape said.

Law and Order and National Security

The Prime Minister highlighted the strategic importance of maintaining stability in key economic regions such as Hela Province, which contributes close to 30 per cent of Papua New Guinea’s national wealth.

“If instability affects Hela, it affects the entire country,” he said. “You are on the front line of national security and economic protection.”

He said the Government will pursue a phased approach to addressing illegal firearms, beginning with an amnesty period followed by firm enforcement after the cut-off date.

“That is why your training must be mental, physical and spiritual,” he said. “You must be fully prepared for the challenges ahead.”

Serving One Country

Prime Minister Marape concluded by reminding officers that Papua New Guinea is their only home and that the responsibility of protecting it rests with those in uniform.

“We do not have a second country,” he said. “This is the land we were born into, and this is the land we will leave behind for our children.”

“As you return to your posts, serve without fear or favour, uphold the rule of law, and remember that your duty matters to every Papua New Guinean.”