Duck and dive

Fisheries authorities have passed the buck weeks after questions were raised about the missing millions raised for the tuna industry.

Fisheries minister Alitia Bainivalu was looking into queries about the tuna stabilisation fund where millions of dollars remained unaccounted for.

She later said some queries from SunBiz were best answered by the Finance ministry, who were also sent the same set of questions during initial round of enquiries. Neither responded.

In 2015, when the fund was in infancy, a Cabinet directive instructed Fisheries authorities to stay out of the matter, a move that suggested the ministry was responsible for the collapse of the tuna industry.

The fund was to be administered by the Finance ministry, which was yet to respond to SunBiz queries.

Finance permanent secretary Shiri Gounder held the role at the time, and continued under the Coalition Government that replaced Fiji First’ reign.

Attempts to reach him on the phone yesterday were unsuccessful.

Plea fell on deaf ears

Tuna industry pioneer, Grahame Southwick said the Government had total control of the fund, and after making one only distribution, refused to release or discuss any further.

“For five years, they refused to meet or discuss, or release the funds, in spite of numerous attempts by industry to access what was rightfully ours,” he said.

“Then COVID struck the already weakened fleet, and overnight the airlines shut down, we could not move what little fish we had, our major markets in the USA and Japan, stopped ordering, as they were failing as well.

“We pleaded for the Government to release the tuna stabilisation funds, as this was exactly what it was created for, to support local vessels and companies.”

"The government continued to refuse to meet, discuss or release, he said.

“As the world collapsed around us, we were unable to sell our fish , pay our bills, or pay our loyal staff and fishermen,” Mr Southwick said.

“We sold our homes and properties at values well below normal, borrow as much as the banks would allow, promising them that the tuna stabilisation funds were imminent, only to be abandoned by the government, which angered the banks, who then threatened us all with winding up proceedings.”

As the situation grew worse, Fisheries demanded industry operators to pay the heavy costs of fishing licenses, or risk the release of 35-year old pioneer licenses, to the foreign subsidised fleet, Mr Southwick said.

“We pleaded for a moratorium on the license fees as we were unable to operate; they refused, and passed our licenses on to the foreign fleet,” he said.

To save their licenses, some companies opted to mortgage more assets to raise money to pay the license fees even though they could not fish, Mr Southwick said.

Others, like Fiji Fish, opted to withdraw 40 years of retirement savings in Unit Trust of Fiji, to continue paying staff and fishermen, in hopes the funds would be released, he said.

“It never was; eventually our entire staff had to be laid off and sent home,” Mr Southwick said.

Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj