Ongoing quota allocations necessary – Kawana
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
Fisheries minister Albert Kawana has denied allegations that he has shown favouritism to fishing companies close to him, saying whenever a quota allocation is announced, the industry is provided with all the relevant details.
He was accused of allocating a quota to his son, an claim he strongly denied.
Remarking on a hake quota allocation that was awarded, Kawana said it was done to ensure the continued operations of fishing companies and factories.
“I send a list to the respective associations so that those companies can negotiate for quotas. I provide the associations with the details so that production is not disturbed,” he said.
Kawana had earlier informed Namibian Sun that quota allocations to the broader public would be completed by February 2021 and that the process was 98% complete. However, in the interim, he said it was important to allocate quotas to new and existing fishing companies.
More than 5 000 applications had been received by then fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau before he was charged in the Fishrot corruption scandal in 2019.
‘Don’t understand the hullabaloo’
A joint-venture company, Hallie Investments Number 3220, had been given the right to exploit the country’s hake resources for seven years, effective 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2027.
Allegations had been made that the company in question was linked to Kawana’s son.
The minister, however, rubbished the claims.
“I don’t understand the hullabaloo. There was a lot of rubbish on social media. I don’t understand why people are writing nonsense like that,” Kawana said.
“Go the Business Intellectual Property Authority, utter nonsense,” he added.
According to him, there was a need to give out quotas to keep the industry alive and ensure factories remained open.
“The industry must work. At the end, all these things will be published, there is no secret about these things,” the minister said.
WINDHOEK
Fisheries minister Albert Kawana has denied allegations that he has shown favouritism to fishing companies close to him, saying whenever a quota allocation is announced, the industry is provided with all the relevant details.
He was accused of allocating a quota to his son, an claim he strongly denied.
Remarking on a hake quota allocation that was awarded, Kawana said it was done to ensure the continued operations of fishing companies and factories.
“I send a list to the respective associations so that those companies can negotiate for quotas. I provide the associations with the details so that production is not disturbed,” he said.
Kawana had earlier informed Namibian Sun that quota allocations to the broader public would be completed by February 2021 and that the process was 98% complete. However, in the interim, he said it was important to allocate quotas to new and existing fishing companies.
More than 5 000 applications had been received by then fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau before he was charged in the Fishrot corruption scandal in 2019.
‘Don’t understand the hullabaloo’
A joint-venture company, Hallie Investments Number 3220, had been given the right to exploit the country’s hake resources for seven years, effective 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2027.
Allegations had been made that the company in question was linked to Kawana’s son.
The minister, however, rubbished the claims.
“I don’t understand the hullabaloo. There was a lot of rubbish on social media. I don’t understand why people are writing nonsense like that,” Kawana said.
“Go the Business Intellectual Property Authority, utter nonsense,” he added.
According to him, there was a need to give out quotas to keep the industry alive and ensure factories remained open.
“The industry must work. At the end, all these things will be published, there is no secret about these things,” the minister said.
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