Gordon Wesley

PPC Morehari  said this when briefing his various section heads on Tuesday February 7,  at the Alotau Police Station Community Policing Hall.

In a brief but sombre hand over ceremony where he handed over the reins to Milne Bay Provincial Police Station Commander Inspector George Bayagau.

He told his policemen and women and his successor that he believed his suspension was politically motivated over his handling of the arrest and confiscation of a vessel owned by Samarai-Murua MP Gordon Wesley last year.

He made the call to Fisheries Minister, Mao Zeming, today in Parliament House following the seizing of illegal fishing vessels and the confiscation of a sizeable quantity of beche-de-mer.

Wesley said recent discoveries in the illegal collection of the bech-de-mer has raised suspicions of alleged collusion between an NFA officer (named) and operators of the illegal vessels.

He raised a number of factors, which he said raised suspicions and they include:

He said this during, Parliament session today, when calling for an investigation into alleged collusion between National Fisheries Authority officers and illegal fishing vessels in his province of Milne Bay.

Wesley said the moratorium was not working as many illegal fishing vessels accessed their sea to harvest beche-de-mer.

He said Samaria–Murua had the biggest maritime zone and was used by many locals for economic benefits before the moratorium seven years ago.

PM O’Neill extended his appreciation to the voters of Samarai-Murua Open for making an informed choice and giving their vote to support PNC’s development policies.

“I congratulate Gordon Wesley for his re-election as the Member for Samarai-Murua Open and look forward to him representing his people once again in the National Parliament,” Prime Minister O’Neill said.

“Mr Wesley ran an informative and positive PNC campaign and the people of his electorate know that he will deliver on his promises.