Mera’s job not proper, says MP

MAPRIK MP Gabriel Kapris has told parliament that the appointment of Commerce and Industry secretary Steven Mera is illegal.
Kapris, who was the minister in the former Somare government, said he was ill-advised by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on that appointment.
He said there were two separate decisions he was not aware of – the decision by PSC to dismiss Mera and the decision by cabinet to appoint him as secretary.
Therefore, he said the appointment of Mera was not proper.
He said Mera had further misled the government on important projects such as the payments of the business development grants and the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone projects.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Commerce and Industry Minister Charles Abel was preparing a report to be presented soon.
He said the business development grants were now becoming a cash handout concept and needed to be stopped.