Chief Justice urges gov’t to review salaries, entitlements
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
CHIEF Justice Sir Albert Palmer is again urging the Government to urgently set up an independent Tribunal to determine salaries and entitlements of public servants.
He was speaking at an event held Tuesday to farewell the outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ronald Bei Talasasa.
Sir Albert has been suggesting that the Government set up an independent Tribunal by statue that is responsible for determining the salaries and entitlements of all in the Public Service, including Constitutional post holders and judicial officers.
“It is high time that this is done,” Sir Albert said.
“We only need to look at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO) to see that we are failing miserably to retain good, experienced and senior lawyers in those vitally important legal offices in the country,” he added.
“They are leaving those offices because there is no incentive and no career path for them to pursue in those important offices.
“We must stop pretending and acting as if we do not know what the underlying problems are.”
Sir Albert said it is a sad part for them in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs and the Judiciary to realise at the eve of Talasasa’s departure that there is no senior and experienced local officer in the DPP office to be considered as a replacement.
“They have all gone,” he said.
At 55, Talasasa has retired and is leaving to take up a new job overseas as Nauru’s DPP.
He will start his new job tomorrow in Nauru, after serving the DPP’s office as a prosecutor and DPP for 28 years and six months.
“Your legal canoe has arrived safely on the shores of your retirement harbour,” Sir Albert told Talasasa Jr.
The chief justice also congratulated him on behalf of the National Judiciary and the Courts for a long, successful and fulfilling career in Government and in particular in the DPP’s office.
“Some started and did not complete, but you have done it; well done.”
