Minister denies conflict of interest over airport land

 By MALUM NALU

CIVIL Aviation Minister Davis Steven says the new National Airports Corporation (NAC) board he announced on Sunday is in place. 

He denied a Post-Courier front-page report yesterday that he had a conflict of interest over Jackson Airport land because his law firm was handling the case for the landowners.

“Former NAC board members have gone to court to challenge the decision of the O’Neill-Dion government,” Steven said.

“The court refused their application to stop the process from going ahead.

“The new board has directed the withdrawal of the court case.

“There is no pending court case against the Government decision to change the board.

“The new board is in control and if (former chairman) Peter Neville wants to file a court case, we will defend it.

“I must stress that the interest of the NAC and its role in civil aviation is more important than one or two people’s interest.

“The NEC has made a decision. There is no court order stopping the new board.

“People must respect the decision of the Government and let the new board members perform their role

“It will be newsworthy to know that following the NEC decision to replace the former board, someone, somehow ensured a notice of the NEC decision for gazettal was falsified to include a line that had Peter Neville reappointed as the chairman of NAC.

“I stopped that gazettal with the help of the chief secretary.

“I referred that matter to the police for investigation.

“I am advised that the financial position of the company needs to be examined carefully by an audit as a matter of priority, and changes in the management is now imperative,” he said hinting changes.