Trading Post Issue 68 July 15 1994.
Twnety-two new police recruits graduated Friday last week with a strong warning from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice to guard against influences from family ties, political parties and from outside Vanuatu that come as challenge to test their loyalty to the Government.
Minister Sethy Regenvanu told the new Police Officers to be cleared in their minds who they are and why they took certain decisions such as joining the Vanuatu Police Force.
He warned that if they are not carefully and submit to situations as such, the influence will make their loyalty in the force and towards the Government of the day a frustration.
The Deputy Prime Minister said it's sad to see many people associated a government with a political party or parties thus, referring to it as the UMP, or NUP or VP government."Such political party association regrettably becomes self paramount in their minds to the extend that it determines loyalty or lack of loyalty to the government," said .Mr Regenvanu.
He pointed out that it's a sickness affecting a government and a challenge to all government employees, whether they be police officers, civil servants and politicians.
Mr Regenvanu advised the young police officers not to allow such oppinion influence their relations with the govenment, adding that interference of carelessness, personal and political interest means the government's efforts training its officers are wasted.
"Be aware of influence of factor not part of government service - they will interfer with your stand and your service with the government and the people of Vanuatu," warned Mr Regenvanu.
"Do not diminish .yourselves or your statures inside the force as to submit to these influences.
"But stand up high and be victorious above these temptations.
"In the end, you could become strong and respected police officers in the force and worhty citizens of this country," Minister Regenvanu told the new recruits.
The twenty-two recruits are this year's first intake and a further twenty-two have been selected for the second intake but when they shall commence training is unpredictable.
This passing-out was thefirst graduation ceremony peformed by the Police Tranining School now transform to Police College and the graduates' results impressed both the Colledge's Instructors and Police Commissioner, Mr :Sato Kilman.
While these new police officers go into the field to do normal channel policing, or join the Vanuatu Mobile Force, or the Maritime Wing.