PORT VILA (Pacnews) — The Australian government development program AusAID has announced a A$2.4 million ($1.2 million) project to bolster Vanuatu’s police force.
Chris Gallus, parliamentary secretary to the minister for foreign affairs, said the 18-month project would involve a “comprehensive review” of the role and structure of Vanuatu’s police force.
“While the key objective was to determine direction for a longer term project to improve the management and operational capabilities of the police service, the interim phase would also include refurbishment of Vanuatu’s police headquarters in Port Vila,” Gallus said in a statement.
It is believed the Australian government is eager to bolster Vanuatu’s internal security in the wake of reports earlier in the year that the country was now susceptible to the kind of domestic instability that has affected neighboring Melanesian countries.
Vanuatu has been labeled Melanesia’s “last domino.” It has remained largely peaceful as Fiji, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea succumbed to internal strife.
