By Theckla Gunga – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Correctional Services (CS) Minister, Jim Simatab, says a letter was written to the reinstated CS Commissioner, Michael Waipo, to not make decisions on rank and files.
The letter is a response to a petition that was presented to CS headquarters in Port Moresby last Friday, expressing grievances of over 70 correctional officers on their transferal to other posts.
Simatab says Waipo is only acting as commissioner pending the substantive hearing and should refrain from such actions.
The letter is simply asking the interim commissioner to refrain from giving orders that will affect jail operations in the country.
“I have however, issued him (Waipo) a written request to not make administrative decisions relating to rank and files of the organisation that may not only disrupt the flow of good management but the jail establishment,” Simatab said.
In the petition presented to the CS, a concern on the transferal and new appointment of CS officers was questioned.
Minister Simatab responded to these concerns saying the department is experiencing some tough times and pled to all CS officers to ensure there is stability in the force.
On March 15, a Supreme Court order was granted to restrain Simatab, the National Executive Council appointed commissioner, Chief Inspector Bernard Nepo and the NEC from interfering with the reinstatement of Waipo as commissioner.
Since the orders were served, Nepo has stepped aside pending the substantive hearing.
This afternoon, Simatab says though he is maintaining good communication he has not received reports of the department’s operations.
