Ocean protectors feel unprotected

MATHIAS HAUFIKU

WINDHOEK



Officials in the fisheries ministry tasked to protect the country's rich fishing grounds are unhappy with the ministry's alleged disregard for their safety, saying the last time they received protective gear was in 2014.

The job of fisheries inspectors includes sea and air patrols, landing controls at factories and harbours, transhipment control at midwaters and inland coastline patrols.

The fisheries ministry is responsible for providing fisheries inspectors with safety gear such as boots, freezer trousers and jackets, reflectors, gloves, life jackets, helmets and socks.

They claim they are now forced to share safety clothes in order to meet port requirements so that they can do their work.

Fisheries minister Dr Albert Kawana yesterday told Namibian Sun that the issues regarding overtime payment delays and safety gear already existed when he joined the ministry and that they were dealt with.

“Those issues existed both at Lüderitz and Walvis Bay but I dealt and solved it. If you are telling me there are such complaints again, it is news to me. I am currently on leave but please check with the office,” he said.



Overtime

A group of fisheries inspectors who spoke to this publication laid the blame at the feet of the leadership of the ministry, accusing them of failing to ensure that the overtime of inspectors is paid timeously.

“At the moment we do not have adequate safety gear, those who can afford to buy safety wear are sorted, but those who do not have the means are forced to borrow from each other.

“There were even some instances where fisheries inspectors were chased out of the part for not wearing safety clothes,” said one of the inspectors who chose to speak anonymously for fear of victimisation.

Another member of the group said the last time they were paid overtime was three months ago, adding that at times it can go up to seven months.



Transport

The inspectors are decried the lack of transport provision. Despite working odd hours, those without cars claim they have to use taxis to and from work because there are no ministerial vehicles to transport them as per their job description.

“As you know Walvis Bay is big, so moving from one end of the port to the other is a challenge.

'The ministry can seriously not expect us to walk,” said one of the inspectors.

It is understood that there are currently no coastline patrols being conducted because there are no vehicles

The group last week went to cry on the shoulders of former Walvis Bay Urban Councillor Knowledge Ipinge, who is also the head of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement at the coast.

Ipinge yesterday confirmed meeting with the disgruntled inspectors.

“I met with them and heard the gruesome conditions they work under. The ministry is more focused on working closely with the fishing industry mafias under the guise of cleaning instead of guaranteeing a conducive working environment for the employees who ought to protect our marine resources,” he said.

Ipinge said he would approach the office of the fisheries minister with a list of demands aimed at protecting fisheries inspectors.

“They told me that sea patrols have been reduced by as much as 70% due to budget cuts. We all know that such a situation can lead to increased illegal fishing activities because there is no monitoring taking place,” he said.