PM says the consignment should be destroyed
THEIR arguments stop with the police.
It is over a year now and police investigation into the controversial missing beche-de-mer consignment has not answered the many questions surrounding the saga.
Even in parliament yesterday morning, the Minister of Fisheries and the Prime Minister dodged the many questions raised about the issue.
On October 14, 2013, a consignment of beche-de-mer worth around $10million was removed from the Fisheries Ministry compound.
The 1,598 kilograms of beche-de-mer was seized by Police and Fisheries officials in Ontong Java because it was said to have been harvested when a ban was effective.
There were reports of political linkages to the consignment and the many questions boggling the minds of people were asked in Parliament yesterday but received no firm answers.
The Prime Minister said it would be unconstitutional to ask police to do what and what not as the matter is under investigation.
“I personally think the consignment should be destroyed.”
Fisheries Minister Alfred Ghiro could not explain much as well re-emphasising that the matter is under police investigation.
Members of the Opposition asked about the whereabouts of the consignment now, whether it belong to the state or not, and more probing questions but only stopped with police. (See separate story).
Interestingly, the same answers were given to members during the recent past sitting.
The Minister of Fisheries and Police Minister were asked about the issue to which Mr Ghiro said his office attempted unsuccessfully to recover the consignment and confirmed that they had already referred the matter for police investigation.
Minister of police, Chris Loare when asked said he did not know about the progress of any investigation into the stolen consignment.
Acting police commissioner Junita Matanga when questioned by the media said they prioritised the riot at King George and in order for police to investigate; people should furnish to police evidence for police to investigate.
Until yesterday, police are continuing with investigations and whether there was any investigation at all, only a genuine investigation can answer the uncertainties surrounding the issue and justice prevail if warrants that.
Mr Ghiro told Parliament he received a text from Police Minister saying the investigation file was received by the police commissioner’s office but was returned to CID for more investigation.
The Speaker of Parliament Sir Allan Kemakeza Wednesday said the Parliament needs to know therefore the matter must be dealt with promptly.
Earlier this year, a medical doctor who claimed he and his boys removed the consignment, said the beche-de-mer have been shipped back to Ontong Java.
Dr Reginald Aipia claimed he shipped the consignment back to his village for safe-keeping and because the products were his.
However, villagers on Ontong Java dismissed the claim, saying if that was the case, they would have seen the consignment unloaded from a ship to the island.
They believe the missing beche-de-mers were still being kept somewhere in Honiara.
By EDNAL PALMER
