PM CONFIRMS GIVING BECHE-DE-MER LICENSE TO Dr. APIA

Prime Minister and MP for East Choiseul Manasseh Sogavare. Photo credit: Parliament.

Prime Minister and MP for East Choiseul Manasseh Sogavare. Photo credit: Parliament.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has confirmed he gave instructions to issue a beche-de-mer export license to Dr Reginald Apia of the Ontong Java Development Company Limited.

Prime Minister Sogavare today says his decision was based on a recent Caucus Consensus that the Democratic Coalition for Change Government should prioritise assisting indigenous Solomon Islanders in their business endeavours.

Mr Sogavare also said his decision also considered the company’s 15 tonnes of legally harvested beche-de-mer ready for exportation.

He said denying the company of a license would result in the sale of this beche-de-mer consignment at a lower price.

The Prime Minister said, in his letter of instruction to the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, he described Dr Apia as a hardworking indigenous Solomon Islander.

He also said Dr Apia is fully entitled to be given a license to export this legally harvested beche-de-mer consignment.

He said the government would be totally irresponsible to deny him that right.

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