Police force

 A parade to welcome Matthew Varley and farewell outgoing commissioner Frank Prendergast, who is also a former AFP officer, will be held on Wednesday afternoon at the Rove Police Grounds in Honiara.

The Island Sun newspaper reports Matthew Varley is the most senior ranking AFP officer to take charge of the RSIPF.

However the paper says it is unclear whether the role was advertised or whether Mr Varley was hand-picked for the country's top policing role.

Father Lonsdale, speaking during the country's independence anniversary celebrations, said neutrality is vital if the Vanuatu Police Force and the Vanuatu Mobile Force, a para-military arm of the police, were to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively.

RNZ reports Vanuatu's police force has experienced political interference over the years.

The search for a permanent police commissioner is continuing after a shortlist prepared last month was thrown out when the government sacked the head of the Police Service Commission.

This is a question asked by a senior police officer trying to make sense of unresolved differences between rivals in the Vanuatu Police Force, coupled with the difficulties faced in the appointment of the new Police Commissioner.

The question came up when this particular officer was recalling, the absence of the ceremonial handover of the sword between one Commissioner to the next, in the past recent years.