P.M. downplays top cop position questions

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 13 May 2018, 12:00AM

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi has downplayed questions raised about the advertisement of the post of Police Commissioner. 

Tuilaepa, who is also the Minister of Police, said the advertising of such a position is the responsibility of employees. It was unclear which employees he was referring to.

But he said it was a “non-issue”. 

Pointing to questions raised in the Samoa Observer, Tuilaepa said: “The Samoa Observer wants the advertisement to be printed with them because they need it, but the advertisement was published on other newspapers.”

The Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Aiono Mose Su’a, said the Commissioner of Police post was advertised on the P.S.C. website and Newsline. 

The advertisement was published from 23 March with the closing date of 24 April, 2018. 

“It was advertised in a special Public Service Official Circular for the post as is done for all C.E.O. ranked posts, the P.S.C. website and in a local newspaper - the Newsline in this instance,” Aiono said. 

“This is the arrangement before my time apparently to control expensive advertisement costs. The advertisement was not run in the Samoa Observer.” 

He also made it clear the P.S.C. helps when required with the recruitment and selection process for the Police Commissioner post. 

“The recruitment and selection of all other Police positions including the Deputy Commissioner is done by the Ministry of Police.” 

In response to questions on the number of applicants who applied for the Commissioner post, Aiono confirmed that several have applied. 

“Several applications have been received following the advertisement and the recruitment and selection process that applies for C.E.O.'s under the P.S.C. is now undertaken for the Police Commissioner post."

“The P.S.C. helps with the recruitment and selection process, but it does not manage the Commissioner's contract.”

The Ministry would know more about that. 

“In C.E.O. contracts managed by the P.S.C., if an appointment is delayed, a variation of the incumbent's contract is done to extend it to await a new appointment expected to be made as soon as possible,” explained Aiono. 

Two weeks ago, interested parties and members of the public raised questions as to why the post of Police Commissioner had not been widely advertised.

The only position that was advertised was the Deputy Police Commissioner which has since been filled by Papali’i Monalisa Keti. 

A Government official who only wanted to be identified as “Oni” was shocked to find out the deadline to submit application for the Police Commissioner post was Monday 22 April, 2018.

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 13 May 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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