Bernhardt Esau ensures he develops his official duties fairly. (Photo Credit: Government of Namibia)

Minister of fisheries accused of stirring 'conflict of interests'

NAMIBIA
Friday, September 12, 2014, 01:50 (GMT + 9)

Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia Bernhardt Esau has been accused of increasing a fishing firm's quotas after having received benefits from its owner.

As it was published in The Namibian newspaper, the minister granted further fishing quotas to Paragon Investment Holdings in June and travelled as part of a delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Hage Geingob to watch the final of the World Cup in Brazil in July on a chartered government jet allegedly supported by that firm’s owner.

According to this media source, despite the fact that Esau stated he was not aware of the origin of the money for the trip to Brazil, entrepreneur Desmond Amunyela, owner of the firm, admitted chartering the jet for NAD 1 million (USD 91,350), denying rumours that it was taxpayers’ money what supported the trip.

“I appreciate the fact that I live in a country where citizens can demand accountability from their leaders, but this was a private matter,” Amunyela further stated.

“I saved money for this and I will start saving up again for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and I will take along whoever I am comfortable taking with,” he added.

Amunyela’s relationship with Geingob has been a subject of much debate in recent years, but the young entrepreneur maintained again that “there is nothing more to the friendship than what meets the eye,” New Era informed.

On the other hand, in his statements to The Namibian Minister Esau explained he had been the Prime Minister’s guest in this trip to Brazil and denied he had compromised himself with a conflict of interest position, pointing out he carries out his official obligations fairly.

“I have received a lot of other invitations by fishing companies to take me out of the country but I have turned them all down because I know that one day they would want to seek favours for those trips,” said Esau.

Paragon Seafood Products, a subsidiary of Paragon Investment Holdings (Pty) was awarded fishing rights and quotas by the minister, in a joint venture entity called Mack Fishing.

The joint venture received 9,152 tonnes of horse mackerel quotas this year, and was allocated 10,000 tonnes last year, and in 2012 quotas amounted to 12,100 tonnes, according to The Namibian.

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