The allegations of bribery and corruption within the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) recruitment section has seen the Defence Department take drastic measures over the past couple of years to fix the problem, including replacing the whole recruitment team with new members and a new director.
According to the Defence Force Chief of Staff, Navy Captain Philip Polwara, there are still gaps to be filled in the recruitment process and the defence force is looking into ways to improve it so as to recruit the suitable candidates only. This includes sitting with the selection panel of the education department or introducing online applications.
“These are some of the options we are looking at. The minister is adamant that we have to get through what is being practiced by the department of education from the way they make selections. The system is a bit tighter than ours.”
Meanwhile, the PNG Defence Force has recruited recently people with technical background and qualifications who are currently going through the recruitment process, to fill in the void of technical personnel in the force. The Chief of Staff said the defence force needs personnel with the technical background because these are the people that will support the logistical system that supports the Navy, the Army and Air elements.
