The safety of BSP Staff, Branches and Property are a fundamental requirement for BSP to provide (or continue to provide) Banking Services in any town or city in Papua New Guinea.
BSP views the recent unprovoked verbal and physical abuse against BSP Staff and vandalism against BSP Property as unacceptable and a serious impediment to our continued operations in the Paiam Township.
On Saturday June 16th, while BSP staff devoted their own time to work on a community project, a drunkard and known trouble-maker instigated a group of people who verbally abused, threatened and then attacked BSP staff and bank property was damaged. The instigator and his mob are known in the community.
BSP therefore wishes to announce the indefinite closure of BSP Porgera Branch until such time that BSP feels it is absolutely safe to continue operating and the community fully understand their obligation to protect the Bank, its Staff and Property, and also appreciate the provision of banking services by BSP.
The people and leaders in Porgera must take ownership of their community in a law abiding way and work with the Government and Law enforcement authorities to ensure law and order in this town and surrounding regions is guaranteed.
BSP Wabag Branch will now service Porgera customers as an interim measure.
BSP is hopeful that this indefinite closure of our banking operations in Paiam will facilitate all communities in Papua New Guinea to appreciate the real economic damage that the deterioration of Law and Order has on every town and city in PNG and the economic consequences such violence has on the future sustainability of the town if BSP is forced to withdraw Banking Services.
