PM seeks advice on ruling
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
PRIME Minister James Marape says Cabinet will be seeking legal advice on a decision it made in 2019 to appoint David Manning as Police Commissioner.
“(It was a collective decision) when we appointed Manning in the first place,” he said.
“I have not received a full advice from our lawyers on the decision which was Cabinet’s collective decision when we appointed Manning.
“Due process was complied with for his appointment.
“But if the court feels otherwise, then we will study the decision before I respond.”
The National Court ruled on Friday that Manning should vacate the post in seven days because he did not have the required university qualification to take up the post.
Marape said while Manning might opt to challenge the court decision, Cabinet would also recheck the process it used “because we know former police commissioners who had no university degrees were appointed through the same process we followed”.
Minister for Justice Bryan Kramer also plans to get Cabinet approval to amend the regulation to exempt the Commissioner of Police from its oversight.
“In practice, the Commissioner of Police has never been subjected to the minimum tertiary qualification requirement given the operational nature of the police force,” he said.
Kramer said the Government remained confident in Manning’s ability to oversee the reform of the constabulary.
“Once the regulation has been amended, PSC may recommence the process and resubmit a short-list of candidates to the NEC after the position becomes vacant.”
Police Minister William Onglo said the Government “respects and will comply with all court decisions”.
10 comments
Enough of playing politics with position vacancy and concentrate on PNG economics woes
These are administrative matters within Police department on their merits and appointment of their hierarchy. Politics must not intervene
Duty or job descriptions if written on or about 2014 or 2015 Public Service Management Act should tell the story.
Almost all departmental heads and heads of statutory bodies only practitioner practice certificate such secondary Teacher teaching certificate and or diploma. Secretary DoE still has a teaching certificate as the minimum requirement.
The problem is the regulations have been in place since 2003, BUT no one ever contested them!
Mr Prime Minister, please follow the process of appointing such departmental heads.Do not handpick people of your choice.
The government must respect the court decision and do the right thing by going back to the drawing board to reconvene the new appointing process. Politicians must not hijack the due process.
Stop wantok system and political interference. How can you appoint someone without University qualifications to take up the highest post in the country as commissioner and the same person being the secretary. How the cabinet bypass the screening process and made appointment. We are not living in the stone age days where you get a Gr10 or Gr12 and appointment them as commissioner. We need degree holders and police personnel who have extensive wealth of experience in the operations to be the commissioner.
PM must not against the courts decision. Country knows that that is the last decision. Court must award 2 officers the commissioner and deputy commissioner. No neet to play politics. This government has followed the due process. Head Png in wrong direction.
Political appointments have not brought PNG anywhere! Stop questioning the LAW, do your jobs right. Simple as that!
Looking from a practicable stand point, if I were a CEO, I would rather weigh out and make determinations based on circumstances and situations. If that position needed experience with strong and demanding with hand-on leadership, command and control, I will argue that those qualities should over ride those based on qualification. Though I may have all the qualification up to a PhD level, I’d rather let the most experienced run the show while I support with higher level brains
Comments are closed.