This is to all those involved in the destruction of that "backbone of the economy" renewable resource - especially the gutless and/or corrupt politicians. Hang your heads in shame - but this time it's for the record. No more guessing who did what (like the Upper Churchill) - no - this time live with it - let it follow you into the annals of Newfoundland and Labrador history....
The following was written by Gus Etchegary and he has agreed to publication on Sue's Blog!!
PLEASE READ
Our children and grandchildren will never forgive us
How can Loyola Hearn justify hiring Loyola Sullivan as Ambassador of
Fisheries Conservation? This question has to be repeatedly asked until a
satisfactory response is given.
Lets look at the facts and if I am out-to-lunch please tell me because I,
for one, am not prepared to let those snakes slide past without bringing
public attention to a number of issues tied directly to Hearn's
irresponsible action. This Fisheries Minister who was elected with the
solemn promise to a group of supporters that he would take measures to
protect our five hundred and fifty year old fishery from going out of
existence and in that process clean up the mess in DFO. A mess that has been
accumulating since the 1968/70 period.
A quick review of that commitment to a group composed of retired bureaucrats, scientists (not from DFO), former fishery executives, fishermen and others, indicated he was sincere and a man of integrity when he, with the help of all parties, succeeded in passing a resolution in the House of Commons in support of Custodial Management. Furthermore both he and Harper confirmed that commitment during the election campaign. Most of us were delighted to see him appointed Minister of Fisheries.
That elation didn't last long. Three weeks after his appointment and at a meeting with him and four of his senior bureaucrats it became clear the bureaucracy had claimed another victim.They had him by the "scruff of the neck" and we would witness much more evidence of DFO bureaucracy at work as the weeks progressed.
There is no need to go into detail. Suffice to say, Loyola has lost the ball
and any hope of a firm commitment by the Prime Minister of Canada to engage
NAFO countries in serious custodial management discussions to rebuild our
fisheries after fifteen years of useless moratorium. Unless Canada, as a
nation, stands firm and resolute to rebuild our renewable fisheries it will
never happen. As has been the case since extension of jurisdiction to 200
miles in 1977 no amount of intervention by DFO Ministers Regan, Andersen,
Dahiwal, Thibault, Crosbie or Hearn will bring a sense of responsibility
from European or Scandinavian countries who are raping our diminishing stocks. NAFO is simply a shield and Hearn not being familiar with international fisheries and its machinations is being whipped into acceptance of the empty promises by NAFO countries which are supported by diplomats in DFO and External Affairs. And it promises to get worse before we have a change in attitude by the Prime Minister.
About two months ago Loyola Hearn began singing the praises of Loyola
Sullivan from the rooftops as the "leading negotiator in the country" and
giving him full credit for the Accord success. He repeated those accolades
several times and then lo and behold and suddenly, Sullivan resigns, dumps
Premier Williams with the Premier appearing to have been hit by lightening.
Everybody and his brother were speculating on why this awful tragedy hit us
at this crucial time. FPI, under Risley and Armoyan was coming apart at the
seams, Amoyan ( as he announced when he bought his shares) was on the road
to success having taken over FPI with shares at 5 bucks and now reaching for
11.00 dollars share value. The Company was being split up with the valuable
marketing arm going to our benevolent neighbors ( Highliner of NS) who
Williams says have agreed to "look after" NL production!!!!!! ( Some of us
well remember forty year experiences with Highliner). The world was coming
down around our ears and Sullivan the great negotiator was leaving.
All the other FPI assets based in NL will go to either Barry Bros. (Loyola's
relative involved) or to Penneys ( More Sullivans involved). A special FPI
committee composed of those great fishery pioneers Coleman, the grocer----Anthony, the insurance agent and Woodward, the ferry operator, will decide which one of the bidders will take the spoils and recommend accordingly to the Board composed of Risely, McGrath( the Union), Armoyan and the three members of that special committee. You will recall the FPI Board had refused to enlarge the Board Membership to include more NLers some weeks ago as was legislated by the Williams/ Sullivan Government.
In the meantime, the mystery of Loyola's resignation suddenly becomes clearer. Sullivan is appointed Conservation Ambassador on the basis of his extensive experience growing up on the Southern Shore and working during the summer trap season. In the meantime we all know he spent his career as a school teacher and as an astute politician with little or no knowledge of the problems involved in conservation and rebuilding a fishery. And neither will that capability come from Hearn and other senior bureaucrats who have been standing by watching two of the last remaining groundfisheries, turbot and yellowtail flounder, being plundered by Canadians and foreigners (under a Canadian flag) catching undersized fish, incapable of reproduction, being landed and shipped to Asia. Not a single pound being processed in NL. We have been urging DFO for years to deal with undersized fish harvesting and its just now being noticed and commented on by scientists in the Independent yesterday. This is a flagrant violation by DFO of basic conservation
measures which I and others have brought to the attention of DFO officials many times without without the slightest response to deal with it. It is a fact of life that Sullivan's relatives are engaged in this practice and it will be interesting to see if the Ambassador of Conservation intervenes and stops this practice.
This business of Sullivan's appointment has introduced a conflict of interest unknown ever before in our fisheries. Sullivan having jumped ship and abandoned the NL Government will suddenly find himself in a position of influence.
With relatives in each camp of the eventual winner of the FPI spoils and
with a new controversial Fishery Act about to be introduced which could
funnel every usable quota into the hands of those with influence, those
interested in a viable NL fishery had better wake up. This could happen
because the new Act, if passed, could destroy any semblance of "common
property resource" and have permanent transfer of whatever quotas are
available to those with influence.
Hearn created the Ambassadorship and came to the rescue of Sullivan who as
Finance Minister and and a Member of the IEC knew full well the impending
uproar (which we have witnessed during the last 48 hours) was on the horizon
regarding the $2875 check for 48 MHAs after lying to the Unions. He,
Sullivan, is partially responsible for this mess because he participated in
the process. Yet, through Hearn he is not drummed out of the country, which
he would be elsewhere, instead he lands the plum of still another pension
and another fat salary as the Ambassador.
And we haven't seen anything yet. Wait till the Ambassadorial staff is hired
and the travelling starts across the Pond and to Asia and Australia and NZ,
Ottawa, BC, Inuvit etc etc etc begins to accumulate. $500,000 will about
cover the first week of activity in the New department.
Any hope of their being a rational, well-developed plan, scientifically
based to bring back our fisheries has disappeared over the hill through the
irresponsible actions of the DFO Minister and the appointment of total
misfit to a position which is so unnecessary, useless and costly to the
Canadian taxpayer.
There is little doubt now that we get what we deserve because we stand back
and let irresponsible people run our fisheries and not open our mouths. Our
children and grandchildren will never forgive us.
7 comments:
The time has come to stop this tragedy from occurring.
It is now time for the FFAW, the Federation of Municipalities, or the Board of Trade or whomever to take out Class Action lawsuit on behalf of the inhabitants of Newfoundland and Labrador against both the Provincial and Federal Governments. What is happening here has to be stopped in its tracks. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH LEGAL ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS PROVINCE. LET US DO IT.
Sadly, our political history right from day one is a pretty sordid record, but never , in my opinion, has it reached a lower point than at this present time. A case in point is the Williams government's throwing the hard-pressed Fortune Bay communities to the Cooke/Barry wolves, and the federal appointment of Loyola Sullivan to defend the rest of us from the other predators.
There are those inside and outside politics who know and understand what is happening but chose to remain silent. These are the gutless ones and are of all men most despicable because it is their silence that gives consent to the rot that is eating at the guts of the body politic.
There are exceptions. There are a few who do speak out, but they are like voices crying in the wilderness. Why???
Maybe the lawsuits should be taken against both levels of government for the lack of transparency that exists in that industry. Nobody can figure out how it works, no matter how hard we try. That is the way both levels of government want to be.
Why should anyone listen to anything that High-Grade Etchegary has to say about fisheries policy?
WJM - who should we listen to?
Any suggestions?
Which politicians?
Gus worked in the industry when mistakes were made - it was however under the rules and regs of the DFO - when one has the guts to at least stick around and give us the benefit of their extensive knowledge and experience - that places him far above those who set the rules and ran...
Gus worked in the industry when mistakes were made
You crap on Elizabeth Marshall for not blowing the whistle on wrongdoing. What then makes good old High-Grade Etchegary a hero in your books?
Who should we listen to? You're fond of Iceland. Really study Iceland. Norway. NZ. Oz.
Ms. Elizabeth Marshall, after being an acting Auditor General, and being part of the IEC, should have informed the others of what might be coming down the new Auditor General's chute. That is, of course, if Ms. Marshall was in on the IEC meeting where the $2,800.00 was approved.
Post a Comment