N$4
namib times SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6534 FRIDAY 4 MARCH 2016 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
Striking seagoing workers run risk of being dismissed Large swaths of seagoing workers of the fishing industry continue to engage in an illegal strike, despite a High Court interdict in force since 7 December last year as well as a memorandum of understanding signed between fishing industry employers and the two biggest trade unions in the fishing industry that the conditions at sea for seagoing workers would be improved. This was said recently by the Chairman of the Confederation of Namibian Fishing Industries, Mr Matti Amukwa when he addressed the fishing industry at the annual address of the industry by the Minister of Fisheries and Marine
Resources, Bernhardt Esau. The interdict compelled workers to return to work whilst the memorandum of understanding is coming into force this month. Mr Amukwa described the workers' illegal strike action as a form
of “absconding.” On the sideline namib times were told the time is fast approaching where a “gloves off” approach would follow where these workers would be dismissed. The hake industry is Continues on page 2
Eenjarige verdrink in visdam op Walvisbaai 'n Eenjarige seuntjie het Dinsdag op Walvisbaai in sy ouerhuis se visdam verdrink, toe hy in oomblikke sonder toesig glo by die deur uitgekruip en in die dammetjie beland het. Die polisie op die hawedorp het die voorval gister bevestig en gesê 'n ondersoek na die voorval is reeds aan die gang. Verpletterde familielede vermoed die seuntjie het vooroor na die dammetjie geleun om aan 'n vissie te probeer vat, toe hy in die water geval en verdrink het. Die seuntjie, Xander Gordon, het op 15 Desember verlede jaar sy eerste verjaardag gevier.
inside
Erongo has water for twenty years
Page 4
MUN petitions LHU
Page 5
Usakos Exhibition
Solidarity Wealth Tax a reality within months Government's intended Solidarity Tax came under close scrutiny in Walvis Bay on Tuesday during the 2016 budget review by auditing firm Deloitte & Touche. The main concerns raised over this intended form of redistribution tax is the method governmennt would use to collect this tax and whether the funds would indeed be used to improve the situation of Namibia's poor and vulnerable.
President officially opens NYC at Henties Bay The National Youth Service (NYS) near Henties Bay had their 9th intake passing-out parade and the President of the Republic of Namibia Dr Hage Geingob also inaugurated the centre yesterday. About 489 young men and women who have successfully completed their eight months of civic training, were part of the parade. Full report on page 2
Auditing firms hosted several budget review sessions at the coast in recent days. These events included a breakfast session hosted by Deloitte & Touche at the Walvis Bay Protea Hotel. Guests were informed by speakers at the event the introduction of Solidarity Tax is a certainty and no more a matter of speculation whether it is to be introduced or not.
The aim of Solidarity Tax, of which the concept was changed to Solidarity Wealth Tax in the meantime, has the primary aim of poverty reduction. This form of taxation will be threshold based meaning only persons and businesses earning an income above a certain threshold would be eligible to pay Solidarity Wealth Tax, according to Gerda Brand of Deloitte & Touche
who addressed the audience on Tuesday morning. According to Brand, expectations are this threshold would be set high, meaning Namibians in the lower income groups are most likely not to be eligible for Solidarity Wealth Tax. Solidarity Wealth Tax will also only be temporary of nature and will be abolished once poverty reContinues on page 2
Page 7
Illegal dumping health risk
Page 10
Hengel op sy Beste Bladsy 32