Vanuatu police commissioner

Colonel Robson Iavro's suspension comes following the recommendation of the Police Service Commission.

He has been accused of threatening two French tourists at Club 21 Casino in Port Vila.

The Daily Post said in suspending the Commissioner, the President, Nikenike Vurobaravu, had appointed Astrophile Nwele Acting Commissioner.

In a notice, newly appointed chairman of the PSC, Willie Vira, is calling for candidates with a degree in policing, law and management or related field or a diploma in lieu with applied relevant work experience, to apply.

Mr Vira says any interested applicant must have served in a senior strategic position in the Vanuatu Police Force or in another country for a period of 7 years or more.

The candidate must acquire the experience as police chiefs and the ability to provide command.

But reliable sources say the appointment was delayed due to concerns raised over the qualification of certain individual member of the Police Service Commission as well as the results of votes cast by members of the Commission.

They say the selection was not done through the counting of score-cards but instead voted for, through secret ballot – the result of which saw 2 of the 5-member panel not casting their votes.

It is understood that the selection panel made its decision last Wednesday and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Alfred Maho has been consulted over the selected candidate for the Commissioner’s post.

This morning, Mr Napuat, who was assigned to oversee the appointment process of the new police commissioner said in the past, governments have misinterpreted this process by allowing politics to infiltrate the process, particularly when the name of the selected candidate is forwarded to the minister.