KOROR, Palau – The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS), responsible for seven divisions under the Ministry of Justice, is currently without a permanent director or acting director.
Former Director Levitre’s term officially ended on March 15th, and no replacement has been named for either position. This leadership gap raises questions about the day-to-day operations of the BPS.
President Whipps recently stated that the director reports directly to the vice president, however, past actions have created confusion about the appointing authority.
In March 2023, after Director Aguon was removed, Minister Sengebau-Senior assumed the acting director role. However, immediately after, President Whipps appointed Attorney General Rengiil as acting director, highlighting the potential conflict in appointment authority.
The issue was seemingly clarified in August 2023. Attorney General Rengiil, citing Palau National Code Section 5021(b), determined that the president holds the sole authority to appoint both permanent and acting directors.
Several division chiefs within the BPS previously served as acting directors during Director Levitre’s tenure, potentially providing valuable experience for the leadership role. However, with no clear leadership at present, the Bureau’s day-to-day operations remain uncertain.