By GINNAH MINI
MINISTER for Defence Hon. Elias Kapavore says the investigation report into the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) 1/26 recruitment process will be presented to the public, while recruitment will continue to maintain the force’s operational capacity.
Mr. Kapavore said about 100 personnel leave the PNGDF each year, making it important for the force to continue recruiting new personnel to fill vacancies and maintain its strength.
“The report will still come through, but we cannot wait for the report as it will bring us to the end of the year,” Mr. Kapavore said.
He added that recalling candidates from the recruitment list was not a new practice, noting that some genuine candidates who had successfully passed all recruitment requirements were being recalled.
Mr. Kapavore was responding to questions raised by Morobe Governor Hon. Rainbo Paita regarding the PNGDF recruitment controversy, following the force’s decision to recall candidates from the 1/26 recruitment intake.
Governor Paita questioned whether the independent investigation has been concluded to move to the next phase of recalling the recruits to Murray Barracks, Headquarter of PNGDF.
He noted that the parliament was promised to receive the report once the investigation is completed.
“Parliament and the people of Papua New Guinea need to be told as to what was actually transpired in the process so that now we can recall the process to come back to take in the recruits if we have dealt with that already,” Mr. Paita said.
Mr. Paita asked the Minister to clarify whether the cabinet or the National Executive Council lift the suspension of the intake 1/26 and to indicate whether the PNGDF Commander was instructed by the council to recall those recruits.
He also asked to clarify the recalling of the recruits that were selected by a de-registered company during the 1//26 recruitment process. Meanwhile, Minister Kapavore said the investigation report was still being finalised and that he had asked the Chairman of the Defence Council to review the recruitment process and clarify