4 sept namib times e-edition

Page 1

N$4

namib times

SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6879 FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2020 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net

Checkmate! Seaflower Pelagic Processing confirmed it has now commenced with the issuing of retrenchment letters to its entire staff at Walvis Bay, as it has finally been bullied into a checkmate scenario by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. “A total of 650 people has lost their jobs. Prospects for the employment of another 450 people are also lost”, a senior manager in the company confirmed this week. Seaflower Pelagic Processing maintains it has a legally enforceable agreement with the Government fishing company Fishcor for a 50 000 tons annual horse mackerel quota. Furthermore, the company believes it is made the “fall boy”, in order for Government to create the impression it is dealing with the #Fishrot scandal and other corruption in the fishing industry. “We have a very crucial election coming up. Every opportunity for window dressing and sugar coating will be used by the Swapoled Government to convince the electorate to support the ruling party in these elections”, several Seaflower Pelagic Processing workers said this week. They subsequently urged the people of Erongo and wider Namibia to think carefully before again being misled by political promises which after three decades are exactly just that – promises.

They called for people to make their voices heard at the ballot box to end Namibia's skewered political landscape and to end the status quo where fish quotas, mineral rights and high value urban land are reserved for the political elite and those connected to them. These workers, fearing repercussions should their identities be known, asked for anonymity. Background: Government is allocated fish quotas every fishing season (Government Objective quotas) which is sold through Fishcor to the fishing industry. Government is obliged by the Marine Resources Act of 2000 (read with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas) to use the proceeds of Government Objective quotas to fund socio economiccultural- or other objectives, on condition it benefits Namibians on a large scale . Seaflower Pelagic Processing, having secured a 50 000 tons per annum horse mackerel quota from Fishcor, constructed a fish factory in Walvis Bay during 2019. The Company based the design and construction of the factory and vessel purchases on this quota. The factory was commissioned early in Janu-

ary this year and was ready to receive its first contractual 50 000 tons quota from Fishcor. During November 2019, as Seaflower Pelagic

Seaflower Pelagic Processing inside goes down - entire staff of 650 Navy gets their retrenchment letters changes Processing was still putting the finishing touches to this massive factory in Walvis Bay, Namibia was hit by the #Fishrot scandal. The #Fishrot scandal is an alleged quotas-forbribes scheme, which

the then fisheries ministers Bernhard Esau and then justice minister Sackey Shanghala concocted in 2015 through an amendment to the Marine Resources Act 2000. The amendment was passed to give a

sitting fisheries minister (at the time Esau) sweeping powers to enter into fishing agreements at will. The minister need not to consult on his/her decision over these agreements. Continues on page 2

Dr Panduleni Ithula’s newly formed party (IPC) launches in Walvis Bay

command

Page 3

State’s Covid-19 isolation ward completed

Page 4

Retrenchments: the reality of Downsizing Survivor Syndrome

Page 6 The newly founded Namibian political party, Independent Patriots For Change (IPC) launches its Narraville branch in Walvis Bay tomorrow, Saturday 5 September 2020. The party is led by Dr Panduleni Ithula who participated in the November 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections as an independent presidential candidate. Dr Ithula (pictured above) received more votes in Erongo during the election as Namibia’s Head of State, Dr Hage Geingob, who were then seeking a second term in office as the leader of the Swapo Party of Namibia. The launch takes place in Narraville’s Namib Street front of Pit Stop). The public is invited to visit the launch to register for membership (Namibian identity document), buy flags, t-shirts and caps and to listen to live music. (Please take note that Covid-19 rules must be strictly followed).

Sports News Page 16


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.