Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday assured that his government has not given out any fishing licences to Chinese or other investors.
Though Ramsammy did not specify, he accused the coalition APNU+AFC of alleging that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has given fishing licences to Chinese investors who will eliminate all opportunities for local fishermen.
“The fact is the PPP/C Government has not given out any licence to any investor- Chinese or any other nationality,” a press release from Ramsammy stated.
He pointed out that his government has had proposals from investors from across the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia about the fishing industry here, particularly on deep sea fishing assets.
“None of these focus on artisanal fishing, where most of our fishermen make their living. In the trawler business which engages predominantly on sea bobs and prawns, only local fishing businesses are engaged,” the release stated.
“We have in our discussion with international investors made it clear that we will not allow any fishing in zones where local fishermen make their living. We have also made it pellucidly clear that we will not even consider any interest in fishing in areas for sea bobs and prawns,” the release further went on to add.
The government remains tight-lipped on a possible US$70 million investment proposal by a Chinese fishing company seeking to operate 30 deep sea fishing vessels.
The Associated Press and other online news websites have reported that Fuzhou Hongdong Pelagic Fishery Co. has already submitted a proposal for various permits. The report stated that the Chinese fishing company, which specializes in shark fishing, would like to operate 120-foot trawlers and drift netters, two auxiliary boats as well as a storage and processing facility on land.
It is understood that the company has also reached out to the government requesting possible concessions and tax breaks.
According to the Associated Press, Fuzhou Hongdong Pelagic Fishery Co. requested to set up test nets for up to a year prior to launching a full scale operation.
The Fuzhou Hongdong proposal says the company would use drift net, trawl and set nets for a test period of a year before phasing in full operations. The company had said it hoped to establish and incorporate in Guyana by the end of December 2014. It said the operation would comply with regulations and would use turtle excluder devices to prevent ensnaring endangered sea turtles.
Stabroek News had reached out to the ministry requesting information on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with a Chinese company as well as the potential proposals from Chinese companies looking to invest in long line and deep sea fishing in Guyana. The MoU was for a study of seafood species that can be fished here without affecting local fishing operations and it had prompted criticism. After the subsequent revelation that the ministry was receptive to potential investors conducting their own research, critics pointed out that having an entity conduct its own research allowed for skewed reporting.
The release said that the PPP/C will “continue to protect our national assets and ensure that these assets continue to benefit our country.”
