Misconduct of Minister Demis Lango [1998] VUOM 2; 1998.02 (3 February 1998)

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

PUBLIC REPORT

ON THE

MISCONDUCT OF MINISTER DEMIS LANGO

3 February 1998

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PREAMBLE

'.... they obeyeth not, nor inclined their ear but walked everyone in the imagination of their evil heart; behold I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape ...'

Jeremiah 11 v 8 - 11.

This report deals with a matter which may appear small when set against the reports of theft and disappearance of public assets on a large scale but it is important as another illustration of a different kind of disregard for the duties and morals of our elected leaders.

Aside from the personal question of adultery and of forcing intercourse without consent, there is the national question of what kind of behaviour is to be expected from not only officials but Ministers.

When Police are forced to investigate noise and disorderly behaviour inside government office buildings in the middle of the night, the matter has gone beyond a matter of simple personal liberty and becomes one of civic morality.

When the offender concerned is one who travel overseas representing Vanuatu and encounters there all the temptations and opportunities such occasions provide, the public are entitled to expect a very different standard of representation and behaviour than the one demonstrated in this shameful episode. Perhaps a needed lesson will be learned by our leaders that they cannot be permitted to exploit their positions for inappropriate sexual conquest, any more than for financial gain.

1 CASE NUMBER

1.1 7345

2 THE COMPLAINANT

2.1 Own Initiative

3 COMPLAINT AGAINST

3.1 Hon. Demis Lango (‘Mr Lango’)

Minister of Civil Aviation, Telecommunication, Postal Services & Meteorological Services

4 THE COMPLAINT