Philemon dismayed on Pacific Register of Ships shares

DEPUTY leader of Opposition and Member for Lae Bart Philemon is dismayed over suggestions that the Prime Minister is exempt from disclosing personal shares interest to the Ombudsman Commission.
Mr Philemon was also surprised by suggestions that Morobe provincial government was among those who also hold shares in either Pacific Register of Ships or even a new Lae-Port Moresby ship – the MV Lae Express.
Mr Philemon was referring to the response by Prime Minister’s media adviser Betha Somare on the controversial single share Sir Michael Somare holds in Pacific Register of Ships Ltd.
“If Ms Somare is saying that her father had not disclosed his ownership of shares in PRS Ltd because it was personal, that is a breach of the Leadership Code,” Mr Philemon said.
“If Sir Michael Somare holds the share in trust for the State, the Government needs to produce the National Executive Council decision that legitimises the State’s participation in Pacific Register of Ships Ltd.
“But whether it is a personal share or a share held in trust, the fact of the matter is that Hansard – the official record of the proceedings of Parliament on Feb 6, 2008, shows that Sir Michael lied on the floor of Parliament.”
Mr Philemon said that not only did Sir Michael lie about the share he held but he also lied about five provincial governments of Morobe, Madang, Manus, East and West Sepik being shareholders in PRS.
“Enough is enough. It is time for the Prime Minister to start telling the truth,” the deputy leader of Opposition said.