longer a priority, ombudswoman told

Leadership Code draft legislation no longer a priority, ombudswoman told

By Patrick Decloitre

Vanuatu’s ombudswoman, Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson, said she had been notified by Prime Minister Maxime Carlot Korman a Leadership Code draft legislation was “no longer a priority”. But this would not restrict her powers of informing the public, she added.

Ferrieux-Patterson said she had received on August 2 a letter from Carlot indi cating a shift in his apparent support of her office.

“He has now declared he no longer sees the legislation of a Leadership Code as a priority and declares the government will now review the effectiveness of the Ombudsman Act (passed last year in parliament),” she says.

Speaking at a Press conference in Port Vila on August 8, Carlot told the media he’s considering reviewing the Ombudsman Act because it currently conflicts with the Secrecy Act. “The government will not be able to work if the ombudsman’s yard and the government’s yard are not clearly defined,” Carlot told the Press on August 8. “We sometimes feel the ombudsman’s office - by its questions] its letters, its threats - prevents the government from working.”

Ferrieux-Patterson said a PNG delegation, including PNG Chief Ombudsman Joe Waugla, was in Port Vila to meet Carlot and present a draft legislation on setting up a leadership tribunal to enforce it.

“Despite numerous requests, the PM failed to grant them even the shortest inter view and waited till two days after their departure before notifying (me) of his inten tion to reverse his policy,” she said.

Under a co-operation agreement signed by Carlot and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan in 1994, PNG has been providing assistance to Vanuatu for the establishment of its ombudsman’s office, set up in July 1994.

“Even if the draft legislation on a Leadership Code is no longer a priority, I still have the power to inform the public,” Ferrieux-Patterson maintained. ■