While maintaining his criticism of the issuance of two controversial trawler licences, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday said stakeholders must always be consulted before the issuance of licences in their respective industries.
At an AFC press conference, Ramjattan reiterated that the two licences issued to Rampersaud Sookhdeo for seabob fishing did not have any input from key stakeholders of the Guyana Association of Trawler Operators and Seafood Processors (GATOSP). He also suggested that the fact no consultation was held prior to the issuance of the licences is against the law as the constitution states that all stakeholders must be consulted on sensitive issues.
Added to that, he claim-ed that there was no support from the Ministry’s Fisheries Department, while also highlighting Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha’s initial refusal to answer questions regarding the licences in the National Assembly.
Since mid-November when GATOSP first brought the issue to the fore, questions have been asked about the circumstances under which licences were issued.
The association in its first missive to the Minis-ter of Agriculture stated that the two licences had been granted in contravention of sustainable fishing practices.
In a recent interview with Stabroek News, the minister had said that the approval of the new licences does not breach the quota of vessels that can operate nor does it threaten the international certification of the trade as has been claimed by GATOSP.
He justified the approval by explaining that several licences are inactive and the current number of trawlers operating does not exceed 80, while emphasising that it does not go against the agreement in place with GATOSP and international partners.
After months of secrecy, the Ministry of Agriculture decided to reveal that the holder of two controversial trawling licences is Sookhdeo, who it said is a Guyanese man who relocated from Trinidad because of COVID-19.
GATOSP has said it had no knowledge of Sookhdeo.
Guyana holds the position as the number one exporter of seabob shrimps. In 2019 almost 21,000 metric tonnes were exported, versus 2018 when 22,000 metric tonnes were shipped out.
