The Minister of Justice and Community Services, John Amos Nalau, has commended the professionalism of the two commissions of inquiry that were set up within a very short time after the commissioners were appointed last month. The Commission of Inquiry into the Vanuatu Financial Intelligent Unit and two Vietnamese vessels detained in Port Vila harbor has accomplished a lot in a short period of time.

He goes on to say that the composition of the two COIs is well balanced with the most experienced and qualified Ni-Vanuatu. They have a mandate of three months to produce a comprehensive report and submit it to the government.

Hon. Minister Nalau explained that according to the mandate, the Commission can extend the contract if workload and other circumstances arise. He mentioned that both commissions of inquiry had almost completed interviewing persons they had summoned. The FIU Commission of Inquiry assured the Minister that it will publish a preliminary report next week and that the final report would be available later

He asks all media and the general public to be patient. The Ministry of Justice will let them know when the final date for handing over the COI report to the government is.

The Minister of Justice and Community Services and the Attorney General's Office have set up a total of four commissions of inquiry this year, and only one of them, the COI on citizenship programs, has not worked to date.

The appointment of this COI was made during the tenure of former Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau Ma'aukoro.