He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. This report concerning the behaviour of Police appears at a time of some moral and ethical crisis in the affairs of Vanuatu. It reveals persistent slackness indiscipline, arrogance and ignoring of legitimate duty by members of all ranks of the Police. It will come as little surprise to the people of Vanuatu who have become accustomed to being ignored, or treated with contempt, or abused when seeking protection and justice.
Complaints go unchecked while apparent indifference and protection of relatives is commonplace.
There are numerous complaints about Police taking sides because of supposed loyalty or preference to people from the same island, or people related to them, or people seen as big men . The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte once said something like there is no such thing as bad soldiers, only bad officers however there should be nonetheless a personal duty and commitment on the part of lower ranks to obey without question the orders of their superiors when these orders are given, and to wait for an appropriate occasion to discuss and settle grievances. Mutiny cannot be tolerated in any form since it poses such a grave threat to the peace of the country and the rule of Law. It is shameful treatment of these men that the incidents four years ago in this report, showing that Police and military refused to obey legitimate orders because they believed they were owed funds of one kind or another should have gone unpunished at that time instead they still apparently form the basis of the festering discontent and insubordination of both forces at the present time. Adding fuel to this sense of grievance has been the realisation that extravagant allowances and salaries often illegal in nature, have been paid out to political leaders and favourites who are determined to obtain financial gain, so that moral in both forces has been brought to a disillusioned low.