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Appointment of the Deputy General Manager of the Vanuatu National Provident Fund [1996] VUOM 7; 1996.10 (15 November 1996)

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

PUBLIC REPORT

ON THE

APPOINTMENT OF THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER

OF THE

VANUATU NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

15th November 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

1. INTRODUCTION

2. BACKGROUND

3. JURISDICTION

4. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION

5. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION

6. FINDINGS OF FACTS

7. FINDING OF WRONG CONDUCTS AND DEFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION PRACTICES

8. RECOMMENDATIONS

9. CONCLUSION

Appendix "A"
Letter of recommendation of I. Joy by the Director of Cabinet - PM’s Office

Appendix "B"
Letter of recommendation of S. Toara by Minister Willie Jimmy

Appendix "C"
Letter of recommendation of T.B. Faratia by Minister Willie Jimmy

Appendix "D"
Reply comments by the Board Members of VNPF.

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PREAMBLE

". . . For grievous wolves shall enter among you, not sparing the flock; also of your selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them . . ."

Acts 20 v 29 & 30.

This report presents to the people of Vanuatu yet another example of dishonesty and misuse of power among those who have presented themselves as leaders and examples.

Public money, levied from working members of the public as an insurance against the hardships of old age, is misdirected into the pockets of those who all too easily abandon principle and any sense of responsibility to those whom they should be protecting.

It should also serve as another warning to the people of Vanuatu to think very seriously of the destructive effects of the tradition of "wantok" in the public services, where promotions are offered and rewards given to those with no qualifications for their jobs other than some kind of "connection" with the leaders. This kind of favouritism - known throughout the world as "cronyism" - usually takes the form of offering posts and money to relatives, or friends or political "cronies", and thereby ensuring three tragic results.

Firstly, inexperienced and incompetent and untrained people are placed in positions of authority, with no knowledge of how they should operate.

Secondly, younger people who have undergone the discipline and sacrifice of prolonged education and training are frustrated by the lack of opportunities open to them on the grounds of their ability, and become discouraged.