3 Oct 2011

PNG police union has no issue with sacking of Commissioner

4:10 pm on 3 October 2011

The Secretary General of the Papua New Guinea Police Association says he doesn't believe politics played any part in the sacking of the Police Commissioner last week.

Mr. Clemence Kanau says Commissioner Tony Wagambie was sacked because he would have exceeded the compulsory retirement age for the role by mid next year.

The government says it wants to settle on a new Commissioner before then as it says it wants stability prior to next year's general elections.

Mr Kanau says the changes were simply administrative and his body had warned the previous government it hadn't followed correct procedure in appointing Mr Wagambie.

"We did alert the government but we allowed the government to arrive at what they did.We were concerned about the process and the appointment because of the future.But all in all Mr Wagambie is an honourable man, he had done well, he has really contributed a lot to the force."

Clemence Kanau.

Local media reports the former deputy commissioner, Tom Kulunga, has been appointed acting Commissioner and Mr Kanau expects a permanent commissioner to be decided on within six months.