Kelley responds to calls to end tenure

By Tevita Motulalo

Commissioner of Tonga Police Chris Kelley

TONGA’S Commissioner of Police, New Zealander Christopher Kelley has made a public response to the allegations of a petition submitted to Cabinet.

“I am aware of the ‘petition’ document…I have not seen a photocopy of the original document,” said Kelley.

“Change may be at the ‘heart’ of these perceived grievances, change to merit based promotion, change to a new Police Act, and change in the way in which we manage disciplinary proceedings.”

And change it may be, as the petition also calls on Cabinet for his removal.

But Kelley continues, “What I can say is when I came to Tonga…my brief from the Tonga government was to initiate reform in the Tonga Police with the help of the tripartite government partners of Tonga, Australia, and New Zealand.”