Why the controversy in change of guards in PNG’s police force?
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Why the controversy in change of guards in PNG’s police force?
PORT MORESBY: Former police commissioner Gari Baki’s controversial exit as Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s top cop is perplexing in many ways.
It raises many questions and doubts on the transition of power for the top and key positions in the police force.
The facts:
# BAKI’s contract had expired on May 7, 2019;
# BAKI has surpassed the retirement age of 60;
# BAKI claims that Police Minister Bryan Kramer did not follow procedures in appointing senior police officers;
# BAKI questioned why the Government did not make substantive appointments instead of in acting capacities; and
# KRAMER, as the police minister, had made the three senior police appointments following legal advice from State lawyers, and decisions made by the National Executive Council (NEC).
PNG Cyber Monitor finds it perplexing that Baki is today questioning the role and powers of the police minister and the NEC in the appointment of senior police officers.
Is Baki saying that the police commissioner is above both the minister and the NEC?
The NEC-appointed Acting Police Commissioner Francis Tokura is reported to be trying to meet Baki on the recent change of guards in the police force and to sort out issues raised on his appointment and that of two other assistant police commissioners.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below an update on the change of guards as reported by The National:
Tokura, Baki to meet
By CLIFFORD FAIPARIKACTING Police Commissioner Francis Tokura wants to sit down with Gari Baki to discuss the recent changing of the guard in the constabulary involving the two of them and others.
“We are career police officers and we must not have any ill-feelings regarding the National Executive Council (NEC) decision,” he told The National last weekend.
“I’m planning to see Baki this week about all these latest appointments.”
He said he heard that he had been appointed acting police commissioner for three months but was yet to see the gazettal notice on that.
“I will have to go to police headquarters to see if there is a gazettal notice about my appointment.”
Police Minister Bryan Kramer last Friday had instructed Baki to vacate the police commissioner’s office because his contract had expired in May. Also to leave with Baki are his two deputies, assistant commissioners Raphael Huafolo (administration) and Jim Andrews (operations) whose contracts had expired.
Replacing them are assistant commissioners Joanne Clarkson (administration) and Peter Guinness (operations).
It could not be confirmed yesterday whether Tokura, who was in charge of the Bougainville Police Service and Baki had already met in Port Moresby.
Both men could not be contacted for a comment yesterday.
Kramer said Tokura had told him earlier that he would be meeting Baki at the police headquarters in Port Moresby.
“Tokura has advised me to move in yesterday (Monday) and meet with Baki,” he said.
Kramer said yesterday he had not received any information that the two had met.
Baki said last Sunday he would obtain a restraining order from the court to stop his removal.
He did not respond yesterday to questions sent to him on that issue.
Kramer said he had not received any such order from the court as of yesterday.
He invited anyone wishing to lodge a complaint over the appointment of Tokura as acting commissioner, plus Clarkson and Guinness as his deputies, to do so.
“We are career police officers and we must not have any ill-feelings regarding the National Executive Council (NEC) decision,” he told The National last weekend.
“I’m planning to see Baki this week about all these latest appointments.”
He said he heard that he had been appointed acting police commissioner for three months but was yet to see the gazettal notice on that.
“I will have to go to police headquarters to see if there is a gazettal notice about my appointment.”
Police Minister Bryan Kramer last Friday had instructed Baki to vacate the police commissioner’s office because his contract had expired in May. Also to leave with Baki are his two deputies, assistant commissioners Raphael Huafolo (administration) and Jim Andrews (operations) whose contracts had expired.
Replacing them are assistant commissioners Joanne Clarkson (administration) and Peter Guinness (operations).
It could not be confirmed yesterday whether Tokura, who was in charge of the Bougainville Police Service and Baki had already met in Port Moresby.
Both men could not be contacted for a comment yesterday.
Kramer said Tokura had told him earlier that he would be meeting Baki at the police headquarters in Port Moresby.
“Tokura has advised me to move in yesterday (Monday) and meet with Baki,” he said.
Kramer said yesterday he had not received any information that the two had met.
Baki said last Sunday he would obtain a restraining order from the court to stop his removal.
He did not respond yesterday to questions sent to him on that issue.
Kramer said he had not received any such order from the court as of yesterday.
He invited anyone wishing to lodge a complaint over the appointment of Tokura as acting commissioner, plus Clarkson and Guinness as his deputies, to do so.
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