Woman is new AIC chief commissioner

By MAJELEEN YANEI
MARYANNE Wal has been appointed the chief commissioner of the Accident Investigation Commission (AIC), to replace Hubert Namani.
AIC acting chief executive officer Raymond Vai said Wal met the requirements as a practicing lawyer for 10 years.
“It is important for the AIC to have a chief commissioner to keep check on the commission’s functions and responsibilities, especially in the investigation of crime and accidents in the aviation industry,” Vai said.
As an agency totally funded by the Government, he also said that funding was one of its biggest challenges, especially when officials needed to assess accidents in rural areas.
“Most accidents occur in rural airstrips, and we have to hire helicopters for officers to assess and take victims for medical attention, which is costly,” he said.
He said the AIC also needed more investigators.
“It has only four qualified senior investigators and we are slowly building them into becoming internationally accepted,” he added.
Vai stressed too that training was also needed as the AIC depended entirely on human resources.
“Investigators must be properly trained to carry out in-depth investigations,” he said.
Wal thanked Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt for his confidence and trust in her, saying her immediate task is to ensure that the AIC generates its own funds for operational use and to invest in the development of investigative officers.
“The AIC was established in 2010 with all commissioners on acting basis.
“Two former chief commissioners were males. It (would be) an inspiration to other women (my) taking up the post,” she said.