The EU-funded project in Marsaxlokk, Malta, initially aimed at providing hard standing facilities for fishing vessels, is not being utilised for five months of the year. This was claimed by the Fishing Co-operative which also raised doubts whether the government is being pressured by Bezzina or Cassar shipyards to have fishermen use their facilities instead.
The total cost of the hard standing facility amounted to around 2 million,75% of which was financed by the Financial Instrument for Fisheries and Guidance (FIFG Structural Funds).
The fishermen cooperative is also accusing government of not having utilised all the EU funds allocated to fishermen to maintain or scrap their vessels and has seemingly gone in a state of panic as the election looms after having realised a little too late.
According to the co-operative’s secretary Raymond Bugeja, during a meeting held on October 25 between the cooperatives and Resources Ministry officials, the cooperative left the meeting abruptly.
We were requested by the Resources Ministry to voice our opinions over the proposed introduction of a new fishing activity-related permanent scheme, Mr Bugeja said.
He added that the co-operative will not succumb to pressures before government stops the alleged discrimination it was creating between fishermen.
Mr Bugeja said that the co-operative will honour contracts discussed and finalised with government before discussing other schemes, while calling on government to investigate pressures on fishermen to use the above-mentioned shipyards when a hard standing facility existed and was not being used for five months of the year.
The cooperative accused government of arrogance and lack of transparency in the way it was dealing with things in this sector.
The Prime Minister is aware of all this but has until today failed to look into the matter., Mr Bugeja said.
The secretary also questioned why, among a number of delegates from the Resources Ministry, there were representatives of Bezzina and Cassar shipyards present during the meeting.
The government is appeasing the shipyard owners at the detriment of fishermen, Mr Bugeja concluded.
2012. Standard Publications Ltd.