‘Pay out police retirees benefits’: Minister demands action

Police Minister John Pundari has called on the Police Commissioner and the Department of Personnel Management to immediately resolve the backlog of retirement benefits for retired officers and entitlements owed to the families of deceased members.

Speaking at the closing of the Police Annual Management Planning Workshop last Friday, the Minister condemned the current delays as unacceptable, saying is an injustice to those who have given their best years in service to the nation.

Pundari, who recently visited several provinces following his appointment as police minister, met with families of the deceased members and retired police officers as well.

He said retirees and families of deceased members should never be left waiting, months or years for what is rightfully theirs.

“Thanking the retirees is one thing but giving serious consideration to their payouts must be given equal significance and must be paid in a timely manner," Pundari said. "A minimum of two weeks to a month to the latest would be good enough but for them waiting for years and moths is totally unacceptable.”

The Minister said continued delays undermine morale, strain resources, and erode public confidence in the Constabulary’s management. He said this is not merely an administrative matter, but one of respect and justice for members of police force.

Sir John reminded the current serving members in the hierarchy that this issue will also affect them when they want to retire, therefore the outstanding backlog of benefits and entitlements must be addressed without delay.

“And that is something that I believe the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary has to give serious attention to because at the end of the day, what is the motivation for you current serving police officers? If this is the way the RPNGC will teat this issue then you current serving officers will wait forever for your entitlements once you retire”.

Pundari reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that loyalty and service are honored not only in words but in deeds, directing immediate collaboration between the Constabulary and Personnel Management to resolve the issue once and for all.