Acting Fisheries Minister Peter O’Neill has been removed from the ministry following his unauthorised approval of 17 fishing licenses to Asian companies.
Government insiders told the Post-Courier last week Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, currently on vacation in Thailand, instructed that Mr. O’Neill be stripped of his acting capacity. They said Sir Michael was very upset over the matter because of its potential to harm the government’s effort to promote good governance.
Mr. O’Neill is the leader of coalition partner People’s National Congress party and remains Public Service Minister. He was appointed acting Fisheries Minister after Andrew Baing was sacked from the ministry late last year.
The National Fisheries Authority yesterday confirmed that Mr. O’Neill had ignored procedures and approved the 17 licenses within three days. NFA acting managing director Sylvester Pokajam told the Post-Courier the licenses were immediately revoked because the minister did not have the power of approval. He said only the National Fisheries Authority board, currently headed by Bamake Rumbam, had the power to approve fishing licenses.
“Mr O’Neill did not consult other departments, including the Internal Revenue Commission, Investment Promotion Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry,†Mr. Pokajam said.
“The National Fisheries Authority can not act on what did not follow proper procedures and the minister did not have powers to approve these licenses in the first place. The National Fisheries Authority board has proposed that the applications go through proper channels as they appeared from nowhere to the National Executive Council to be approved,†he said.
Mr. Pokajam said the fishing companies concerned would have to apply for the licenses through the proper channels.