Defence Minister-designate, Dominic Nitiwul
Government is set to establish military bases in all the sixteen regions, the Defence Minister-designate, Dominic Nitiwul, has revealed.
Answering questions yesterday during his vetting, when he appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, he disclosed that although the sixteen regions presently have military bases, they are on temporary basis.
“As much as possible, the military wants to put a regiment in each region. On a temporary basis, we have military presence in all 16 regions. We intend to make that permanent so that there’ll be military presence to support the civil police in keeping law and order, keep citizens safe and ensure that our territorial integrity is defended well. We’re ensuring that we’ll put military bases across the 16 regions and ensuring that the northern and coastal belts are safe so that we have an envelope of security,” he said.
Boost
Touting some achievements attained in the ministry, the immediate past Defence Minister also said the morale of the Armed Forces has been boosted under his watch.
“Salary rationalisation had barely taken place in the Armed Forces over the last 15 years. The last time this happened was in 2006 or 2007. We have rationalised the salaries of the members of the Armed Forces to, at least, be on par with the other security forces, and that has significantly boosted their morale,” he said.
Burma Camp
Mr Nitiwul, in responding to a question on the location of Burma Camp in a civilian area, said it would be prudent to take advantage of the Saglemi housing project as the country thinks about moving on from Burma Camp in the long term.
To this end, he believes that the controversial housing project be converted into barracks for army personnel.
He feels the army “will be very happy to be given that particular facility if it is completed.”
“As a first step, we should look at handing over the Saglemi Hosing project completely, after the legal issues have been addressed, to the Armed Forces to occupy, and they will take it from there.
“We can develop it into a real barrack and take a decision as a country on what happens to Burma Camp,” he said.
The housing project, which was intended to reduce the country’s massive housing deficit, is seated on a 300-acre land with one to three-bedroom apartments for low-income earners.
The $180 million project was for 5,000 housing projects.
In general, Mr Nitiwul noted that improving accommodation for army personnel is a priority for him.
He wants to make sure “all members of the Armed Forces are in the barracks, so we can make sure there is discipline and morale within the armed forces”.
“It is very important for us that as far as you are a serving soldier, you should be in the barracks and not a rented apartment or even your house outside the barracks,” he suggested.
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