The Vanuatu government has refuted claims by the Opposition that a government introduced policy is to review the medical conditions of former politicians in the correctional services that could lead to a presidential pardon.
Government’s public relations officer Hilaire Bule says the opposition statement is not only misleading but also misconceived.
Bule says since independent there is no such clear government policy on this until the Correctional Service Act came into place under which the Department of Correctional Services was established with the assistance of the New Zealand government. Now detainees have only been assisted by the Department and not the government despite prisoners having the right to vote.
The Government through the Department of Correctional Services has stated that process especially the law is for everyone irrespective of who you are, race, colour or gender.
Bule says Article 38 of the Constitution is clear on pardoning which is clear in that only the President of the republic may pardon commute or reduce a sentence imposed on a person convicted of an offence and it say parliament may provide for a committee to advice the president in the exercise of this function.
To date since Independence, Parliament has not yet approved a committee to advise the president and for the government to proceed otherwise without such a committee would be acting in blatant disregard of the relevant provision of the constitution.
The government PRO says Presidential Pardon is a welfare for the president only under the constitution and not a welfare for the government’s executive.
Bule also confirmed constitutional changes to be undertaken by the Government are intended only for political reform.