Selection of reserves clarified

The National Main Stories

POLICE Commissioner David Manning says only candidates who pass through the screening stage will be considered for reservist police training.
“The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) has determined that if the final number completing the process exceeds the original target of 130, it will consider increasing the intake above the 130 level,” Comm Manning said.
He said the National Capital District/Central reservist selection centre (RSC) started last Monday, at the Bomana National Centre of Excellence.
Comm Manning said the RSC had three stages which were credential screening (Nov 1 to 2), testing (Nov 3 to 6) and interviews (Nov 8 to 12).
He said if candidates failed at any stage, they would be dropped from the process.
Comm Manning said prior to the start of the RSC, names of 1,161 eligible candidates were published in both dailies.
He said to improve the impartiality and perceptions of the integrity of the whole process, critical functions were out-sourced to an independent private company.
Comm Manning said during the stage one of screening of credentials, 780 eligible candidates out of the 1,161 candidates progressed to stage two which was testing.
“During stage two, the testing stage, 780 persons were tested across three and a half days,” he said.
“Of the 780 persons tested, 333 achieved pass marks.”
Comm Manning said currently in the third stage of interviews and finger printing, the candidates were to be interviewed by a panel consisting of two RPNGC recruitment staff and one member of the private company.
“The member of the private company’s role is to ensure that the scoring methodologies are applied consistently across candidates,” he said.
“The scores for each candidate will be compiled and collated by the private company.
“After a candidate is interviewed, they will have their finger prints taken. “These will be used to cross-check against the RPNGC’s records and to commence the processing of police clearance certificates.”
Comm Manning said candidates who passed through the selection centre and obtained a police clearance certificate would be considered for a place on a reservist training course.
He said the decision as to whether they will be selected for training would depend upon:

  • THE aggregate score achieved in the selection centre and the minimum cut-off mark determined for the final selection decisions;
  • WHETHER the candidate passed a medical examination paid for and obtained by themselves prior to the start of training;
  • WHETHER they passed a physical training test at the prelude day to the start of the reservist training course; and,
  • IF there were enough training places for all selected candidates.

On Monday, a disgruntled group turned up at the Bomana Police Collage claiming that the selection process was corrupt, that the company would not select the best recruits.
One of them, Neven Amugl, claimed that the names selected to sit the entry test yesterday were ghost names.
However, training director Chief Supt Perou N’Dranou told the disgruntled group to put their concerns in writing.