KOROR, Palau – The Palau House of Delegates deferred a bill that would change the recruitment process for the Director of Public Safety, shifting it from presidential appointment to public service procedures.
House Bill 11-120-12S proposed amending the Palau National Code to require the Public Safety Director to be chosen through the standard public service recruitment process instead of being directly appointed by the president. Additionally, the bill aimed to alter the reporting structure, placing the director under the authority of the Minister of Justice instead of the president.
The bill’s deferral comes amid controversy surrounding the appointment of Cary Levitre as Director. Less than 100 days after his swearing-in, Mr. Levitre announced he was leaving for the United States for medical treatment. He recently returned to Palau, but details of his absence remain unclear.
Mr. Levitre, the first non-Palauan to hold the position previously held by Ismael Aguon, claims extensive experience in law enforcement, cybersecurity, and leadership gained through his work in the U.S. and internationally. However, his resume does not reflect any experience in civilian law enforcement.