Kevin Kepore and Tabitha Suwae were sworn in to its full house as commissioners of the watchdog, PNG Ombudsman Commission at the Government House in Port Moresby this morning.
That means the watchdog has now been boosted with full teeth to ‘bite’ public office holders based on allegations lodged against them. The Commission is made up of three Members of the Commission, the Chief Ombudsman and two other Ombudsman. The two other commissioners were sworn.
Governor-General, Grand Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae, presided over the swearing-in ceremony.
Kepore has been reappointed as acting Commissioner of the Ombudsman Commission after his appointment term had expired.
Suwae has been sworn in as a Commissioner of the Ombudsman Commission for a period of six years.
The Government House in a statement said before Governor-General, Commissioner Suwae and acting Commissioner Kepore recited the oath of Declaration Office.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Ombudsman, Richard Pagen and Secretary to the Commission Joseph Molita.
The Ombudsman Appointment Committee appointed Pagen was the eighth Chief Ombudsman on July 2nd, 2020 and was sworn on on Tuesday 28 July 2020. Read more: https://www.ombudsman.gov.pg/pagen-appointed-8th-chief-ombudsman/
The appointment committee comprises of:
- the Prime Minister as Chairman;
- the Chief Justice;
- the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition;
- the Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Appointments; and,
- the Chairman of the Public Services Commission.