WHY LAND CHIEF WAS SUSPENDED
By MAENI COMFORT
IT’S confirmed!
Nelson Naoapu, the Commissioner of Lands, has been suspended on grounds of misconduct in office.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Stanley Waleanisia confirmed this last Friday.
In a first of its kind, Naoapu’s suspension letter was sent to media outlets in Honiara last Friday to be published as an advert in the Solomon Star.
Mr Waleanisia distributed the suspension letter, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service Nego Sisiolo.
Dated 3 July 2018, Mr Sisiolo told Naoapu the Professional Standard Unit within his ministry is in receipt of a report alleging his misconduct in office.
He said the alleged misconduct was committed during the course of discharging his official duties.
“In light of the seriousness of allegation against your good self, I decided that it is prudent that you be relieved from duty to pave a way for further assessment of the matter,” Mr Sisiolo told Naoapu.
The lands commissioner is being suspended on half pay.
“While on suspension, the Professional Standard Unit will pursue investigation to ascertain the allegation and where appropriate, issue you charge(s) of misconduct for which you will be given the opportunity to respond,” Mr Sisiolo said.
Meanwhile, Lands minister Andrew Manepora has told SBM Online Naoapu’s suspension was linked to his decision to allow the foreshore of Honiara city to be registered by certain people defying a Cabinet decision.
Mr Maneporaa told the online news service that Cabinet had made a decision for the entire Honiara foreshore to remain in the hands of the Government and not to be given away.
But he told SBM Online that in the past three weeks the foreshore was allocated to certain people, a decision that has angered the government.
It’s feared giving away the foreshore of Honiara to private individuals may disrupt the internet undersea cable the government is working on with Australia to deliver on our shores next year.