PNG: Publicity Battle Over Wrongly Issued Fishing Licensesff

Mr. Peter O’Neill was never stripped of duties as PNG Fisheries Minister last week and that’s official! Reacting angrily to a story in the Post-Courier newspaper Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s press secretary said the newspaper has “stirred” up confusion by reporting that Mr O’Neill was “removed” from his duties as Minister for Fisheries for approving 17 fishing licenses without following proper procedures.

She said Mr. O’Neill was “not removed as acting Minister for Fisheries as he is not the acting Minister for Fisheries: “After the recent removal of Andrew Baing as Fisheries Minister, Prime Minster Sir Michael Somare assumed the responsibility of the Fisheries portfolio.

In the absence of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister during this holiday season, the acting Prime Minister is Bart Philemon,” who automatically assumes the responsibility of Fisheries Minister. “He acts in this position until the return of the Prime Minister,” said Mr. Somare.

Mr. O’Neill was very briefly acting Fisheries Minister when the Prime Minister travelled to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Nigeria in October. He assumed responsibility of the ministry upon his return.

The National Fisheries Authority has categorically denied issuing 17 fishing licenses during Mr. O’Neill’s brief tenure. A political analyst last week described the newspaper report as an “attempt to destabilise government by driving a wedge through the government ranks”.

“There are a lot of rumours going around. They are being spread by political desperados who are vying to overthrow the Government by spreading lies, deceit and untruths and we don’t understand how the media could become so gullible.” He said the media should be extremely careful and not be used “at the time when a no-confidence motion is around the corner”.

Meanwhile, the managing director of the National Fisheries Authority Molean Chapau has categorically denied Mr O’Neill’s authorisation of 17 licenses to Asian companies. He also denied the minister’s failure in following proper procedures. Mr. Chapau said the newspaper report was totally false: “The Minister had at no time at all during his term as acting Minister approved any licenses whatsoever,” said Mr. Chapau.

Chapau said during his term as acting Minister for Fisheries, Mr. O’Neill displayed a “strong resolution for transparency and good governance” and, for that, Mr. Chapau said he has very high praises for the Minister. He said Mr. O’Neill had always ensured “proper and correct procedures were adhered to under any circumstances”. He also noted the NFA has neither issued 17 licenses “nor has it been directed” by the Minister to do so.

The NFA has placed full-page (paid) advertisements in The National and Post-Courier newspapers denouncing last week’s lead story in the Post-Courier, which carried a screaming headline: “O’Neill removed” and a sub-head, saying: “Acting Fisheries Minister ignored procedures”.