OPPOSITION CALLED ON MANENIARU TO REVOKE BECHE-DE-MER LICENSE
Opposition Leader Jeremiah Manele. Photo credit: Office of the Opposition.
The Parliamentary Opposition has called on the Fisheries Minister John Maneniaru to revoke a beche-de-mer export license granted to the Ontong Java Development Company, saying this will threaten his status as a person with integrity.
The Opposition made the call after letters from the Prime Minister and his Deputy to grant the export license to the Ontong Java Development Company were leaked to the media.
In a statement yesterday, the Opposition Office urged the Fisheries Minister to not bow down to outside influence, saying this will overshadow his status as a person with integrity.
The Opposition Office also said the Prime Minister and his Deputy actions amounts to corruption.
It says the manner in which the Fisheries Minister was directed to grant the license to the company was not right and has breached fisheries procedures.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has since confirmed giving instructions to issue a beche-de-mer export license to Dr. Reginald Apia of the Ontong Java Development Company Limited.
In an item SIBC News run last night, Mr. Sogavare explains, the decision is based on a recent Caucus Consensus that the Democratic Coalition for Change Government.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Opposition has also lashed out at the Deputy Prime Minister Douglas Ete, saying he “bulldozed” the Permanent Secretary for Fisheries for immediate action on his memo in the Fisheries Ministry.
In a statement the Opposition said this was “total negligence and disrespect for formal processes and procedures”.
The Opposition also said the Deputy Prime Minister’s action does not respect John Maneniaru as the Government Minister responsible for Fisheries.
The Shadow Government explains, a letter directing the Permanent Secretary to grant export license to the company undermines the role of the Fisheries Minister.
The Opposition says it is urging the Fisheries Minister to restore integrity to himself and his office, and revoke the export license granted to the Ontong Java Development Company.