MADANG — Acting Superintendent Robert Baim, the Madang Provincial Police Commander (PPC), has urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children following a dangerous incident involving more than 80 students stranded on Pik Island during a class party, according to TVWAN.
The students were rescued by police and community members after being left stranded on the island in heavy rain on the night of Friday, October 10. According to PPC Baim, one teenager remains missing after reportedly attempting to swim back to the mainland using a jerry can as a flotation device in rough weather conditions. A search operation is still underway.
Police reports revealed that the students had deceived their parents and traveled off the mainland to attend the party. The boat that had ferried them across failed to return, leaving them stranded until local rescuers intervened.
I had warned students not to go out socializing or partying in big groups after their exams. The incident that happened on Pik Island was a breach of that warning.
Acting Superintendent Baim
Investigations indicate that many of the students were under-aged and consuming home-brew, a matter of serious concern for law enforcement. Because they are minors, police could not detain them.
PPC Baim also confirmed that some teachers were present during the unauthorized outing, raising further questions about supervision and accountability.
He emphasized that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for parents, teachers, and schools across Madang Province.
Student safety and discipline must be a shared responsibility between families, schools, and the authorities.
Baim
The stranded group was eventually rescued after classmates and members of the public alerted worried parents who had seen the students boarding boats bound for Pik Island earlier in the day.
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