Fisheries Management Branch welcomes the investigation of the public protector

09 Jan 2014

The Fisheries Management Branch of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) welcome the news of an investigation by the Public Protector into the Fishing Rights Allocation Process 2013 (FRAP 2013).

The Fisheries Management Branch has absolute confidence that the process it undertook since April 2013 to allocate the fishing rights that expired at the end of last year has been fair and legally defensible. The process was in-line with the laws of the land and also cognisant of the transformation imperatives as was set out in the objectives of the Fishing Rights Allocations General Policy and the Traditional Linefish Policy.

Desmond Stevens, acting DDG of the Fisheries Management Branch of DAFF said, "To date, we have not received any official communication from the Public Protector's office, however we have noted the media reports that they will be investigating the allocation process and we will gladly cooperate when the time comes."

"As the delegated authority of the FRAP 2013, I wish to categorically state that the department has nothing to hide as repeatedly claimed some so-called legal experts and mischievous politicians in the media using our people as fronts to rubbish the department," further said Stevens.

The department believes that the media has a very critical role to play in society and it is unfortunate that some have used the misinformation to peddle lies by quoting individuals and sources that did not even apply for the fishing rights.

Stevens also said, "I wish to urge the journalists to make an effort to read so that they do not regurgitate misinformation with grossly unbalanced stories on the fishing rights allocation process. What I find gravely worrisome is, some of the information is publicly available and the door of my office is wide-open with my cell number available in case they require clarity. I am not one to believe that the media has an agenda against the department but I believe that the efforts by the reporters will go a long way to provide the public with accurate and objective information that is not intended to incite our people unnecessarily so."

Statement issued by Alieya Haider, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, January 9 2014

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