PNGBLOGS

by PAUL AMATIO The recent reshuffle of the senior police hierarchy and command should not really surprise many. It was mooted earlier by Mr. Baki and has finally been effected. That includes the restructuring of the command structure. I guess that given the expansion in the population of the nation, such a restructuring is timely and beneficial to the constabulary. There only remains the task of finding enough men to fully outfit the various commands – not to mention the infrastructure and logistics required to maintain them and sustain them. But that is a political problem. Will the government give enough funding to ensure that this initiative by the Commissioner indeed fulfils its intention? With the 2017 General Elections around the corner, this structure also makes it much easier in terms of coordination, command and control. The movement of senior officers is also a good move, one would think. Many of those who have been in PHQ need to be moved out so they can effectively imple

by BRYAN KRAMER Today's post Courier ran a front page story suggesting the Commissioner of Police Gary Baki is querying how confidential investigations by National Fraud & Anti-Corruption ended up being posted on Social Media. The daily paper quoted Baki having concerns as to why there was a need to go to media on public matters which are supposed to be confidential police investigations. He added that the actions of Mr Damaru and Mr Gitua undermined the integrity of the office of the Commissioner of Police. "This is a serious breach of discipline and amounts to insubordination. In fact they are treating the office of the Commissioner of Police with contempt. Why wasn't I briefed prior to the securing of the warrant of arrest?" Mr Baki said. "Why wasn't I briefed in the three days prior to my directive for the briefing after having read this matter on Facebook?" he said. In response I would like to clarify that I never obtai

by PAUL J REINBARA Name alike, do alike –Geoffrey Vaki v Gari Baki It is not an uncommon incident to see those who are named alike do alike. The two names Geoffrey Vaki and Gari Baki rhyme but do they in conduct? Some Commonalities observed are as follows. APPOINTMENT Both men were budded (taken from outside) into the post of the Commissioner of Police by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill under very suspicious circumstances. The appointments were made amidst imminent arrest of PM O’Neill relating to his approval of fraudulent payments to controversial law firm Paul Paraka Lawyers. The appointment and/or removal of Commissioner of Police just like any other head of a Department, goes through a merit based appointment process, which includes public advertisement, consultation with the Public Service Commission and NEC. Public records show that none of these processes were invoked in the appointment/removal of these two Commissioners. THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS AFTER APPOI