Fishrot’s heavy toll on Walvis Bay communities

People who had flocked to Walvis Bay with dreams of a better life as fishermen are now facing hardship.

Walvis Bay Mayor Trevino Forbes placed the blame for this squarely on the aftermath of the Fishrot scandal.

He made these remarks during a public meeting hosted by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in the harbour town, aimed at discussing the impact of Fishrot on the local community.

"Fishrot is the root cause of most of the problems in our country, our town and our fishing industry," Forbes said.

Paradise lost

"I don't know much about the fishing industry, but I can see the effects of the Fishrot scandal in our town. This used to be a place where people came from across the country for the prospect of a better life. People are no longer coming to Walvis Bay to prosper but to suffer, and that is the reality of the Fishrot scandal, the biggest uncovered corruption [scandal] in our country," he said.

He added: "We must take the proper and appropriate steps to rectify this."

Forbes also stressed that he believes “when you give a quota to a company or vessels that employ people in the industry, you are doing the right thing. But when you give a quota to an individual, for whatever reason it may be, you are doing it at the expense of the democratic people. The resource of this country belongs to the majority of all the people of this country, and it cannot be put in the hands of a single person.”

No action

Forbes questioned whether government has done right by its people.

"Nothing has changed. Are we still continuing on the same path? You are sitting here today because, as you know, nothing has changed. I applaud the IPPR for what they are trying to do. It is a noble gesture because I see the suffering of the people in Walvis Bay every single day.

"Council continues to stand with you through your suffering and pain – especially our fishermen. We are trying to do our part as a government to [assist] you," he added.

Helpless

Walvis Bay rural constituency councillor Florian Donatus, who also attended the meeting, said government has not implemented any programmes to cater for people, especially the fishermen who have suffered as a result of Fishrot.

"I am very ashamed to be standing in front of people at an event organised by IPPR, while we were supposed to be here first with an event organised by the Ministry of Fisheries or the Office of the President. Different people who are suffering in this town as a result of Fishrot, come to my office crying for assistance as they have nothing to eat, and it saddens me to know that there is nothing I can do for these people," he said.

Donatus warned that "as long as the law that allows one ministry of fisheries to allocate quotas remains unchanged, Fishrot will continue to take its course in this country."

He questioned whether the scandal has received the necessary attention or whether the government is simply talking about it.

"Why is the government not engaging the people on the ground to find out why people in Walvis Bay are suffering, why there are no jobs, and why their children are no longer going to school? As long as we do not try to dissect and remedy this problem, more people will keep suffering," he said.

- [email protected]