ROYAL PNG CONSTABULARY - WOMEN OFFICERS

 

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN THE FORCE

 

"from a sales woman to a parade commander .... '

 

By ELIZABETH VUVU

IT is a rare sight to see a policewoman lead a police parade in Papua New Guinea.

For Police Officer Inspector Julie Palakai, she takes pride in leading a police parade.

She says conducting a parade is an honour and this empowers women to rise up in their duties and also gives confidence and strength in a commanding role.

Inspector Palakai is currently the only female officer serving in the New Guinea Islands Region and working amongst her male counterparts as a commissioned officer.

Forty-three year old Inspector Palakai is from Raluana and Bitapaka LLGs in Kokopo District of East New Britain. She has 18 years of service in the RPNGC.  She has been performing the role of parade commander since 2013 when she was appointed police station commander Lihir in New Ireland.

Since then Inspector Palakai has conducted a number of parades in the NGI region. She recently ran a receiving Guard of Honour parade comprising of police and correctional service officers outside the Kokopo Court house to welcome East New Britain’s new residential Judge, His Honour Justice Stephen Kassman.

She explained that a parade commander leads a parade and must know by heart the word of command which comes in order of sequence followed by its drill movement with or without arms.

“When inviting and escorting an important officer or VIP on parade, we are actually inspecting each individual on parade meaning we are looking at how professionally the officer is dressed starting from the head down to the toes,” she says.

“The sword I hold during the parade is a sign of great respect to whoever person we are giving honour to. It signifies the tradition of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary through the Queen and carries great honour,” she said.

The evidence of faded silver colour on the sword indicates that it is not a new sword and has been used over the years by all provinces in the New Guinea Islands Region during special ceremonial parades.

But life was not all roses for inspector Palakai as she went through so many hurdles to get to where she is now as the acting officer-in-charge of Public Safety at Kokopo Police Station.

Insp Palakai came from a broken family and did not go far after completing Grade 10 at Hoskins Secondary School in West New Britain. Her father enrolled her at the East New Britain University Centre in 1994 before the twin volcanic eruptions where she did adult matriculation studies Grades 11 and 12.

In 1997 to 1999, she was employed by PNG Stationery and Office Supplies as sales representative.

She recalls one lunch hour when she picked up a Post- Courier newspaper and saw that the RPNGC made a call-out notice to interested applicants throughout Papua New Guinea to apply for 6 months constable basic training at the Police training college Bomana so she decided to apply. Her application was acknowledged and she was shortlisted. In 2001, she joined the RPNGC as a police recruit and successfully completed six months training and was posted to National Capital District Command.

In 2009 she applied for cadetship and was successfully selected to do the 2 years cadet program at Bomana Police College. She graduated on May 8, 2013 along with 4 other female officers and 20 male colleagues.

They were commissioned  as officers by former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill at Sir John Guise Stadium. The graduation coincided with the RPNGC Modernisation Program.

She was posted to Lihir Police Station as station commander right after.

“My first field experience as station commander Lihir was such a great challenge as I was just a young policewoman officer posted out there to lead, manage and command on-commissioned officers older than me, very experienced and long service policemen and women,” she said.

In 2014 she was transferred to Namatanai as police station commander and then finally to Kokopo Police Station in 2016 as Shift Inspector for the Public Safety Unit.

“Doing operational and administrative decisions as a station commander is such a great task and you have to adopt critical thinking which means you have to learn to think fast during state of emergencies or in everyday situations whilst on normal police duties and make prompt and wise decisions,” she said.

Some of her achievements included being promoted to First Constable in 2007, commissioned to the rank of inspector in 2013, acting police station commander Kokopo in 2017 and 2018 respectively on short-term basis, graduating with certificate in Middle Management at the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance in 2018 and currently acting Officer in-charge of Public Safety Kokopo.

But for women holding such positions, they require the utmost support from their spouses and families.

As for Insp Palakai, she was in a defacto marriage with a policeman who was a sergeant in rank.

“He often discouraged me from becoming a commissioned officer before and during cadetship training. He often argued telling me that I was just a woman and policemen and women will not listen to my  instructions and orders and that women had no power to lead.”

Despite the discouragements and misunderstanding, she continued to strive on to achieve her goal and graduated as a commissioned officer.

I had to leave him as I could not see any better future with him given the physical and verbal abuse, disrespectful behaviour that I could not stand any longer. I was now a commissioned officer and needed an environment conducive to my career as a female officer,” she said.

Insp Palakai is encouraging fellow female officers in the RPNGC and other sister disciplinary forces to be strong and make their stand in such a male dominated workforce.

“I feel more encouraged to see more female commissioned officers and senior non- commissioned officers especially in the RPNGC taking up commanding roles in the Operational field.’’

She reiterated that:  “The rank that we carry comes with roles and responsibilities. Women must show their capability in performing their constitutional duties in the positions they occupy.”

She also stressed that the RPNGC has an EEO Policy already in place that should be strengthen and pave the way forward for women and men to respect each other and work together to achieve the organisational goals. 

“I also encourage women of today to strive and rise up against any discrimination, abuse and sexual harassment in the workplace, “she said.

She urged male counterparts to respect women in the workforce in both Government and non-Government organisation and to see women as equally important as men.

She said: “For those of you young girls who are still struggling, do not give up but strive for the best to achieve your goals and to find a better and happy life. Education does not stop when you are young or old.  Where there is opportunity, go for it as education is your future. Nothing is impossible when we put God first in all we do no matter what family background we come from.”

Insp Palakai attributes her success to her parents, who, although separated, supported her in her education, her guardian parents in West New Britain, her husband who is also a commissioned officer for giving her courage, understanding and advice in police work.

She also saluted ENB Provincial Police Commander, Joseph Tabali and NGI Divisional Commander Supt Anton Billie for recognising Gender Equality in the RPNGC workforce and encouragement and support from other commissioned officers and senior NCOs especially in ENB, New Ireland, NCD and across the nation.

Pic captions:

1 - Insp Julie Palakai 

2- The recent static parade conducted by Insp Palakai held outside Kokopo Police Station recently to welcome Justice Stephen Kassman.

3 - Insp Palaki escorting Justice Kassman to inspect the static parade recently in Kokopo.

Pics by Elizabeth Vuvu