Gordon Police commander Inspector Mark Mosinakave (right) accepting the donation. Photo: Nationalpic.
Start-up company Niunet PNG, dedicated to solving the problem of building and distributing digital education material in a country with poor internet coverage, has donated 53 computers to the Papua New Guinea Police.
In a statement, Niunet PNG said it was committed to building education technology through computer libraries in the country and was assisting the police in the force’s transition from manual to digital operations.
The computers will be delivered to individual taskforces and sections within the PNG Police including Family Sexual Violence, Cyber-crime, Homicide and the Motor Squad.
Chief Executive of Niunet PNG, Dave Valentine said the company had donated close to 400 computers and built 212 computer libraries in rural primary and secondary schools across the country since it was formed four years ago.
“We are putting 40 computer libraries into the National Capital District and the surrounding Central Province later this year. We have so far covered Highland areas and are moving to the New Guinea islands next year, focusing on schools,” Mr Valentine said.
“As many International schools are already well funded, we intend to focus on public schools.”
He said the company’s experience was that a significant number of public schools lacked resources, with as many as 40 students in a class using no more than four computers.
“This makes it impossible to have a good learning experience,” Mr Valentine said.
He said the overall aim was to build a wave of digital literate young citizens who would help develop the country in the future.
Niunet PNG is a partner with Haus Light International, based in Townsville, Queensland.
Meanwhile, the PNG Defence Force is planning a major restructure in coming weeks. Acting Commanding Commodore, Philip Poleware said the restructure would cover pay, allowances and entitlements, and would affect the Forward Operating Base in Hides Hela.
He appealed to soldiers and others to stop reacting to unfounded comments in social media posts.
“The public should not react to rumours posted on social media and I appeal to soldiers who have issues and grievances to take them up with their respective officers so we can concentrate on our job of defending the country’s borders,” Acting Commanding Commodore Poleware said.
