Vanuatu's Deputy PM Emelee says police should maintain integrity

The caretaker Deputy Prime Minister, Christopher Emelee said the country is going through its worse political crisis ever and the police are expected to maintain law and order in public places and intervene in illegal acts, if necessary.

Mr Emelee said police integrity and ethics are fundamental principles for effective policing and building trust within communities.

“Sound conduct by police improves community interactions, enhances communication, and promotes shared responsibility for addressing crime and disorder.

“Ethics imposed on the policemen ensure them to be loyal to the institutions of the Republic, honourable and impartial while at service to the people of Vanuatu.

“Building trust between the police and the citizens they serve is of paramount importance and as a politician and more importantly as a citizen of Vanuatu, I demand police to be held to the highest ethical standards.

“Today, it is positively repugnant how some policemen are attempting to make a name for themselves by using disinformation and defamation in local communities, all of which end up causing harm to my personality and to the good name of the Vanuatu National Development Party (VNDP),” the caretaker Deputy PM alleged.

He alleged that some policemen have developed great skills in spreading rumours that he was to be arrested for “my wrongdoings” with the sole and unique objective of destabilizing his political campaign.

“I decided to visit them myself to clarify this matter.

“Surprisingly, I was assured that no complaint had been filed against me, however it was confirmed that some policemen had conspired to tarnish my reputation.

“It is my firm intention to stop these kinds of injurious practices by naming and shaming the responsible policemen who forced me to write this press release to reinstate the truth.

“Despite this regretful incident, I remain confident that the Police force is doing a great work in protecting and serving the people of Vanuatu,” Mr Emelee said.

Source: Vanuatu Post