FISHERIES Director Eddie Oreihaka has been suspended
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service Ishmael Avui confirmed that Mr Oreihaka has been suspended while investigations are carried out.
Mr Oreihaka reportedly signed a comfort letter allowing one of the fishing vessels currently held by police to fish in our waters while waiting for their fishing licence.
Fisheries Minister Nollen Leni ordered the release of the two fishing vessels only to learn later that the director had issued the letter without his knowledge.
Mr Leni then blamed his director saying such approval should be taken through right procedures.
“Unfortunately, because of that misinformation, my initial order for the release of the boats was not correct.”
He earlier said the director has no power to issue that approval.
“Normally the Ministry would present a paper to caucus and cabinet to approve that kind of a Memorandum of Understanding.
“In this case, it wasn’t and that is the problem we have with the director’s action.”
The public service permanent secretary said he suspended the director after receiving reports from the permanent secretary for fisheries.
“He is being suspended while investigations are carried out,” Mr Avui said.
Meanwhile he said another fisheries officer has been suspended separately for allegedly misusing and selling government property.
The two skippers of the boats appeared in court this week and were bailed to appear again on 29 March.
Patrol Boat Auki intercepted and seized the two Foreign Long-Line Fishing vessels on 30 January this year.
The two boats were allegedly fishing without licence in Solomon Islands’ territorial waters.
The vessels were located at approximately 325 nautical miles from Honiara, about 138 nautical miles South/East of Rennell Island near the Indispensable Reef.
The vessels were located with the RSIPF Maritime Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) which is linked with the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) regional monitoring system.
The boats have been fishing in our waters for more than a week before police intercepted.
By EDNAL PALMER
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