Brigadier Vernon Hunter is the new deputy commissioner of
police in the Seychelles police force. He was appointed on September 15, 2014
according to a communiqué received from the Ministry of Home Affairs and
Transport. Prior to accepting the position, Brigadier Hunter was the provincial
head of the operational response service of the South African police service in
Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.
The communiqué adds that Mr Hunter is a career officer with
42 years of distinguished police service with the South African police service.
In his new role, deputy commissioner of police Hunter will report directly to
the expected soon to be replaced commissioner of police, Ernest Quatre, to
fully support the mission of the Seychelles police force and to drive the
professional development processes of the force.
The salary busting appointment of the 59 year South African
underlines how bankrupt the local police force is, in terms of leadership
despite the much publicised Police Young Leaders Programme. As well as a car
and house the new Deputy Commissioners salary will be a king’s ransom; salary
an equivalently qualified Seychellois can only dream of and all courtesy of the taxpayers. Vernon Hunter is the third foreigner to be appointed
in that position since 2009. Recruiting another foreigner to fill in the
position means the Michel administration has no confidence in Seychellois high
ranking officers as the control of key position like the in the Judiciary are maintained.
