Dear Editor,
This is in reference to your editorial captioned “An Act of Corruption” (SN Mar 19, 2021). This is very troubling. I had always liked the minister’s down to earth approach and his presence almost everywhere. But the awarding of the fishing licence is not above board. An independent investigation is warranted on the awarding of this sea bob license. There are several questions that need to be answered. This can only be accomplished with an independent commission of inquiry.
Was the process transparent? Was there open bidding or tendering? How many fishermen applied? Why was the licence restricted to only one? And why the secrecy in awarding the license? It suggests that something was not above board? Why did the vice president defend such a corrupt act? Whose idea was it to make it a secret? Why is the president silent on the entire episode? Why is the minister not brought to account?
Separately, there are other issues that raise questions about how the ministry is managed. There are issues pertaining to the awarding of contracts. Tenders are randomly cancelled. Rules on awarding contracts are violated. The minister appears too intricately involved in the awarding of contracts. Shouldn’t he concentrate on policies that would improve productive capacity? There are troubling allegations of conflict of interests among staff and bidders and nepotism among staff and ownership of companies that bids for contracts. Much is in the public domain. The president and vice president cannot claim ignorance.
Sincerely,
Joshua Emmanuel
