Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi

 

By Nanai. T. Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Expatriates and Samoans living abroad may apply for the position of Police Commissioner.

An emergency amendment of this effect to the Police Act is now before Parliament.

Defending the open, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the amendment will broaden the selection pool to appoint the most qualified candidates – and not just in Samoa – as Police Commissioner.

“You are wrong to assume that the law will disallow the appointment of Samoans to the post,�? said Prime Minister Tuilaepa.

“The purpose is to attract as many good applicants to apply for the Commissioner’s post. We want the best. It’s about equal opportunity for both our officers here and any Samoan in law enforcement overseas who has the qualifications and experience. It should also serve as a challenge to our Police force to perform to the best of their abilities to minimize any chance of an expat getting the top job.�?

Concerns were raised in the House in regards to keeping the Commissioner position as an internal Police appointment, that the Commissioner should be well-versed in the faasamoa and that government was not doing enough to train top Police officers for the role.

But most MPs who took the floor agreed with the amendment, including most of the Opposition Tautua Party.

Points in support include the continuing conflict of interest in some government ministries, an alleged widespread laidback Police culture and the immediate need for change in the Police Force and Police services in the country.

Others expressed surprise that the original Act did not allow overseas Samoans and expats to apply for the top Police job.

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