Vanuatu NGO disappointed by Police Commissioner's sacking

Transcript

WILLIE BAKOA: My first reaction was I was surprised. Because Mr Nalpini, Albert was one of the new officers that we trained. He's one of the very new young officers that we took them through appropriate training for the Vanuatu Police Force. And I was part of the training officers who trained them. And he was one of the officers that was selected to be one of the most suitable police officers. And we have been watching him through out his whole career as a police officer. He has gone through the ranks. When the position of the Police Commissioner was made by the government, he applied through the normal procedure. He went through the normal procedure through the appointments Police Service Commission. And he was appointed on merit. I find it hard to believe that someone like him who is qualified with a law degree should be terminated in his position as the Police Commissioner.

JENNY MEYER: But this is an ongoing problem isn't it? There have been around five Police Commissioners in the last four years in Vanuatu. What do you think is behind this reoccurring problem of Commissioners being sacked by politicians? What's behind it?

WB: Thank you Ma'am it is an ongoing problem as you rightly asserted. As you would have known there's always been a series of Acting Police Commissioners. There was never a permanent Police Commissioner appointed until Mr Nalpini was appointed as the permanent Police Commissioner. And from my own point of view my own opinion is that one of the main factors affecting the appointment of the Police Commissioners and their performances is tarred with political influence. Because their appointment is founded on political terms.