Devant fires EMBD

The Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs has effectively fired the Estate Management Business Development Company (EMBD) because of the plethora of problems experienced with its contractors. This comes from Senator Devant Maharaj, the Food Production Minister, at the opening of the Grande Riviere Fishing Facility at Depot Road, Grande Riviere, last week.

The minister said he heard the grumblings of the fishermen of Matelot who complained that a fishing facility built by the EMBD still remained closed. Maharaj said the ministry was still waiting for the contractor to hand over the facility and produce the relevant paperwork before it could be opened.

He said, “Because of the problem up there and other areas with EMBD, we are revisiting our relationship with EMBD as a procurement agency. In fact, I went to Cabinet about three weeks ago asking that Nipdec be the new executing agency for the Ministry of Food Production.

“Cabinet had agreed to that, so now all our new projects would be under Nipdec as we distance ourselves from EMBD.” Maharaj said he hoped in six weeks time the fishermen who suffered losses in 2011 would receive some measure of compensation. The fishermen told Maharaj that they had filed claims but had not yet received any monies for damaged boats and nets. Maharaj said when he investigated he found the paperwork submitted by the fishermen to be incomplete.

Maharaj explained that the ministry must have the proper documentation in place before any money could be paid out. However, he mandated Christine Chan A Shing, the director of Fisheries, to expedite the matter in six weeks. He said compensation must be approved by Cabinet through a note submitted by the minister. “I am waiting with a pen in hand to sign that note.”

Maharaj said his ministry would be constructing a slipway and other facilities at Grande Riviere.