19 Mar 2010

Vanautu MP says Police Commissioner must go after damning Coroner's report

10:45 am on 19 March 2010

A Vanuatu Government MP says the Police Commissioner, Joshua Bong, should be the first to go following a damning Coroner's report which recommended sweeping changes in the police,

In an inquest into the death of a man in custody, the Coroner, Justice Nevin Dawson, was particularly critical of the Vanuatu Mobile Force.

He called on the Government to make major changes to rein in a force that had access to high powered guns and no respect for the rule of law.

MP Ralph Regenvanu has welcomed the report and the first change is that Mr Bong should resign.

"He is I suppose the main danger at this stage I was referring to earlier about possibly disregarding attempts to deal with the situation and protect his position and the position of his senior officers in the police force and the Vanuatu Mobile Police force against the rule of law."

MP Ralph Regenvanu.