The Solomon Star yesterday quoted Mr Charles Dausabea who produced a document showing payments made by URS for a trip to Australia for a delegation from the judiciary, which include the Chief Justice and the DPP.
High Court registrar Gavin Withers said it was true but the delegation was there to interview and recruit Australian judges.
“I confirm that the Chief Justice did travel to Brisbane in December 2011 as a member of an interview panel for advisor positions within the National Judiciary,” Mr Withers said.
He said to suggest the travel was in relation to interviewing Australian Judges was not correct.
“The recruitment exercise did not include any High Court Judge positions.
“I understand the Director of Public Prosecutions also travelled partaking in similar interviews with respect of the Public Prosecutions Directorate.
RAMSI Special Coordinator Nicholas Coppel also rejected the claims and described it as ludicrous.
Mr Coppel said the payment to a local travel agency was to meet some of the standard costs of an international recruitment process.
“The payment covered the cost of the airfares of the Chief Justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions and several other senior Solomon Island officials invited by RAMSI to assist in selecting suitable candidates for RAMSI-funded positions in the Solomon Islands law and justice sector.”
He said this was not a new arrangement as RAMSI has always considered it important that key Solomon Islands stakeholders be part of this process as they were in the best position to judge who the most suitable candidates are.
“It is appropriate and important for the Chief Justice and senior Solomon Islands justice officials to lead the selection processes for advisers that would be working with them and their agencies.
“Solomon Islanders are responsible for the management of their institutions. They are the best people to conduct the interviews because they know which skills are needed and the relevant experience required.”
Mr Coppel said the decision to conduct the interviews in Brisbane was a simple one of cost-effectiveness.
“With international applicants from more than seven different countries being interviewed, it was simply cheaper to conduct most of the recruitment in Brisbane than to fly the interviewees to Honiara.”
“There were 30 vacancies, 93 interviews conducted, 63 of which took place in Brisbane,” he said
He said it was only right that RAMSI cover all travel costs because the recruitment process was for RAMSI funded positions.
“It would not have been appropriate for the Solomon Islands Government to bear the burden of this cost.”
The Special Coordinator said it was disappointing that The Solomon Star did not check their facts before giving the claims such prominence.
By EDNAL PALMER
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