Weapons Drawn in the 'By-Catch' Case: Open Warfare Between Colleagues Ameer Meea and Juman

In a heated exchange regarding the granting of permits for processing 'by-catch' fish, Minister Aadil Ameer Meea has categorically denied any allegations of conflict of interest raised by MP Ehsan Juman. Meea defends the transparency of the process and condemns personal attacks, urging his colleague to approach the appropriate authorities.

Tensions are running high between Minister of Industry, SMEs, and Cooperatives Aadil Ameer Meea and constituency MP Ehsan Juman, who was also his running mate in the last general elections. The conflict stems from comments made by Juman on the show "Au Cœur de l’Info" on Radio Plus last Friday, concerning a permit for the exploitation of so-called 'by-catch' fish granted to Aquaris Ltd. in the port area.

During his radio appearance, Juman raised questions about a potential conflict of interest, claiming that the Minister's Senior Advisor held a secretary position at Aquaris Ltd. at the time the permit was awarded.

Meea firmly rejects these accusations. He dismisses any allegations of irregularities, asserting that the process leading to the granting of permits was conducted within a strictly regulated and transparent framework. He mentions that an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Paul Bérenger, was established to better oversee the exploitation and processing of 'by-catch' fish at the port.

This committee held several meetings and submitted its recommendations to the Cabinet, which subsequently adopted a series of measures to better regulate the sector. New regulations have replaced those in effect since 2004. Meea also recalls that a parliamentary question regarding eligibility conditions was raised last November, which clarified procedures. He further points out that it was Minister of Agro-Industry, Fisheries, and Food Security, Arvin Boolell, who provided details on the permit allocation, stating that permits were granted to three companies by his ministry "in full transparency."

Addressing the accusations against his Senior Advisor, Meea is adamant: "He was neither a shareholder nor a director and held no permit under his name, contrary to what some are trying to suggest. This is entirely false. He only held the position of secretary, and it was already planned that he would be replaced upon the incorporation of the company," he asserts.

The tone becomes more severe when Meea directly addresses his constituency colleague Juman. He claims that Juman is driven by political frustration due to not being appointed as a minister. He describes the situation as "regrettable," stating it arises at a time when the government is already under pressure, particularly after the attacks on Shakeel Mohamed regarding the Hajj case. "I have no lessons to learn from him on good governance, much less regarding corruption," he states emphatically.

Personal Attacks

Meea goes further, suggesting that Juman has opted for a strategy of personal attacks, particularly by sharing his intervention on social media.

"Ehsan Juman is in no position to lecture me. Everyone knows he has faced the law for corruption," he declares, feeling compelled to respond to what he sees as unjustified accusations.

According to Minister Aadil Ameer Meea, if Juman believes there has been an irregularity, he should have pursued institutional channels. "If he thinks there has been wrongdoing, why not approach the police or even the Prime Minister? It is clear he is frustrated," he claims. He also criticizes Juman for choosing to speak publicly rather than favoring internal dialogue. "He could have come to talk to me instead of airing everything on the radio. 'Do you think you can work with someone like this?'" he questions.

Juman responded to Meea in a Facebook post on Monday evening, stating, "A dog on its feet cannot reach the height of a kneeling elephant."